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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 


Chap.[I?Zco^yright 


No... 


Shelf___fC_.3 77 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 









I 




THE ESCAPE FROM THE BURNING MOUNTAIN. — Page l8o, 





FORTUNE HUNTERS 

OF THE PHILIPPINES 


The Treasure of the Burning Mountain 


LOUIS CHARLES 

AUTHOR OF “THE LAND OF FIRE,” ETC. 


NEW YORK 
THE MERSHON COMPANY 

■ ■■ 

I- i - 


PUBLISHERS 




5515 




TWO cocn^-. 

LAra/jr <,, C« »»,,,» 

Ojn-of,*. ' ^<^V 

•IUNI 3 1900 ‘^$ 7 / 

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THE MERSHON COMPANY. 


CONTENTS 


^ CHAPTER 

I. 

II. 

III. 



VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 
XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 


My Brothers, Myself, and Our Guardian, 

The Brass-bound Box, 

What the Box Contained, ... 

We Come to a Determination*, 

A Quarrel in the Summer House, 

In Which I Borrow a Sloop, 

On the Way to San Francisco, . 

On the Way to Manila, . . . . 

A Trip into the Interior, . . . . 

Pando Kolo 

Abduction of Oliver, 

A Native Birthday Party, . . . . 

A Strange Adventure, . . . ; . 

A Fresh Start, 

With the Kahu, 

Off for the Burning Mountain, 

Things that Happened, . . . . 

A Narrow Escape, 

What Boez Tried to Do 

Off for the Treasure-Cave, 

The Treasure-Cave, 

A Strange Meeting, . . .. 

I Get into Trouble 

Robbed of the Diamonds 

Home again — Conclusion, . , . . 

iii 


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FORTUNE HUNTERS OF THE 
PHILIPPINES. 


CHAPTER 1. 

MY BROTHERS, MYSELF, AND OUR GUARDIAN. 

‘‘ It^s an outrage ! ” came from Oliver. 

I don’t intend to stand it,” added Don. 

Well, what are you going to do about it,” 
I asked, as calmly as I could. 

“ I — I’m going to run away,” answered Oli- 
ver determinedly. ” Mr. Narcross shan’t treat 
me like this — no, sirree ! ” 

” It’s easy enough to talk about running 
away,” said Don. “ But how are you going to 
do it when you are a prisoner in such a hole as 
this?” 

Never mind — I’m going to run away, and 
that settles it.” 

“ We might as well be in a regular prison as 
in here,” I continued, glancing around at the bare 
brick walls which surrounded us. “ Mr. Nar- 


2 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


cross don’t intend us to get away — not if he 
knows it.” 

“ What do you suppose will be his next 
move? ” asked Don, with some anxiety. 

“ I don’t know. Perhaps he’ll send us to court 
for trial.” 

“ But we didn’t take his money.” 

“ I know that as well as you do.” 

“ I think if anybody took the money it was that 
Cal Bender,” said Oliver. “ He’s a bad egg — 
you can see it in his eyes.” 

“ Right you are there ! ” I cried. “ Cal Ben- 
der is a sneak — and worse. I don’t see how Mr. 
Narcross allows him around.” 

“We didn’t touch that money — and I am not 
going to suffer for another’s crime ! ” burst out 
Oliver. “ I’ll turn the whole ranch upside down 
before I’ll submit.” And I really believe Oliver 
meant what he said. 

We were three brothers — Oliver, Don, and 
Frank Folsom. Oliver was the oldest, Don next, 
and I the youngest, but there was hardly three 
years’ difference between the three of us. 

Two years before a terrible disaster at sea had 
robbed us of our parents. At that time the three 
of us were attending Chiros Academy in Cali- 
fornia, our parents having gone on a trip to the 
Philippine Islands, 


Vi • 



OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


3 


The blow was a terrible one, and for several 
months we knew not what to do. Then Mr. 
Narcross, who had been our father’s business 
partner, came forward and became our guardian. 
At first he left us at the academy, but a year later 
he made us give up schooling and come to live 
with him at his home in Oceanville. 

I think, on the whole, Mr. Narcross meant to 
do what was fair by us. But he was a strange 
man, given to violent outbursts of temper, and 
became angry over the most trivial things. As 
we boys liked fun we were continually “ in hot 
water ” with him. 

But all went well, comparatively speaking, until 
one day there was missing from his desk a pocket- 
book containing fifty dollars. On the very day 
the money was discovered to be gone, my brothers 
and I had bought a new football with some sav- 
ings of several weeks. Oliver had also bought 
a football suit with some money received for 
doing odd jobs for a neighbor. 

At once Mr. Narcross, always hasty and now 
in a terrible rage over the loss of his money, ac- 
cused us boys of taking the pocketbook. 

‘‘ You took it, and spent part of the money for 
that football stuff,” he declared. 


“ We didn’t take it ! ” cried Oliver. 
You did ! ” shrieked our guardian, 





4 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


'' We haven’t seen the pocketbook/’ put in 
Don. 

We are not thieves,” I added. 

A wordy war followed, which ended when Mr. 
Narcross leaped upon Oliver and bore him to the 
floor. 

“ I’ll make you confess! ” he cried. “ I won’t 
have such work going on in this home ! ” 

Neither Don nor I would stand by and see our 
brother abused, and both of us leaped in, and for 
several minutes Mr. Narcross got the worst of 
the struggle, as we hauled him oflf by the legs and 
bumped him severely on the floor of the dining 
room. 

But then our guardian called in Chin Lee, his 
Chinese servant, and Patrick the barn man, and 
between the three men we were made prisoners 
and our hands were tied behind us. 

Now I’ll fix them,” muttered Mr. Narcross. 

Mind them until I come back.” 

He went into the cellar and we heard him ham- 
mering away for the best part of quarter of an 
hour. 

When he returned he was covered with dirt, 
but there was a smile of grim satisfaction on his 
face. 

'' I’ve opened up the old wine-vault,” he said 
to Patrick, '' We’U lock them up in that.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


5 


But/’ Oliver had protested, “ you haven’t any 
right ” 

“ Shut up, boy ! ” stormed our guardian. I 
have a right to treat thieves as I please. Perhaps 
you’ll hear more of this matter before long. 
Take them below.” 

In spite of our struggles, Oliver, Don, and my- 
self were forced down the cellar stairs, and then 
led along to where a great oaken door separated 
it from the wine-vault our guardian had men- 
tioned. 

The vault had not been used for years, and was 
as dismal a hole as one could well imagine. 

“ In you go,” had been Mr. Narcross’ last 
words. “ I’ll show you that I am master here, 
and not one of you shall have anything to eat or 
to drink until you confess where you have put the 
pocketbook and the balance of that money.” 

“ We can’t confess, because we don’t know,” 
had been Oliver’s final reply. “ Some day, Mr. 
Narcross, you will rue this work, mind what I 
say.” 

Then the heavy oaken door was slammed shut 
and bolted, and we were left in utter darkness. 
For several minutes we sat silent; then came 
the conversation with which I have opened my 
story. 

“No matter how you look at it, we are in a 


6 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


pickle,” said Don. “ I can’t see a thing, can 
either of you ? ” 

Neither of us could. “ He don’t mean that we 
shall see anything,” I said. 

Back up to me, Don, and untie my hands,” 
said Oliver, and Don did as requested. Then 
Oliver liberated Don and me. 

One move toward liberty,” said my oldest 
brother grimly. “ Now, has anybody got a 
match ? ” 

“ I haven’t,” came from Don. 

“ Here is one — ^just one,” I answered. “ Be 
careful how you strike it. Have you a bit of 
paper to light? ” 

Oliver had a story paper, and crumpled up one 
of the sheets. Then came a faint scratch or two, 
followed by a tiny blaze. Soon the paper was 
ablaze and flaming like a torch. 

“ It’s a pity it won’t last,” began Don, when I 
uttered a cry of delight. 

‘‘ A candle ! Somebody has forgotten a candle 
in here ! ” 

I was right — a candle lay almost at my feet, 
the end stuck into the mouth of an empty wine- 
bottle. We quickly lighted the candle, and then 
set to work to examine the prison into which our 
guardian had cast us. 



THE BRASS-BOUND BOX. 


Apparently there was but little to be seen. 
The wine-vault was bare but for two empty vats 
which lay in one corner, half fallen to pieces and 
smelling vilely. 

There was nothing in the shape of a window 
to the place, and the only ventilation was through 
half a dozen small round holes in the heavy oaken 
door. 

“Not a pleasant outlook, eh?’^ was Oliver’s 
comment. 

r. “ Pleasant? ” I cried. “ It’s horribly disagree- , 
able, Oliver. What in the world are we to do? ” 

“ Get out,” he said laconically. . . 

“ I’ve heard that before.” 

“ But I do mean to get out, Frank, and that is . 
all there is to it,” he persisted. 

“ Well, I am with you — if you can point the ; 
way.” 

“ He means to get out when Mr. Narcross lets . 
us out,” said Don, trying to joke, but none of us 
were in a humor to appreciate it. 









8 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


'' No, I mean to get out before that. Do 
you think I am going to die of hunger and 
thirst?” 

“ Do you think he will really let it go as far as 
that?” asked Don. 

“Why not? You both know how stubborn 
and headstrong he is.” 

“We can have him arrested for it.” 

“ And he’ll swear we took his pocketbook, and 
have us sent to the penitentiary, or House of Re- 
form, or something like that.” 

Again we took a look around the wine-vault 
and tried the door. 

It was bolted top and bottom, and refused to 
budge. 

“ No escape in that direction,” said Oliver. 
He took the candle and began to inspect the walls 
with care. “ Hullo, what does this mean ! ” he 
cried presently. 

“What does what mean?” came from Don 
and I in a breath. 

“ Here is something that looks like a doorway 
bricked up, and over it are the initials ‘ V. O. M.’ 
I wonder what ‘ V. O. M.’ stands for? ” 

We stood in silence for a moment. 

“ I know what it is,” said Don, winking at me. 

“What?” asked Oliver. 

“ That is to be Mr. Narcross’ funeral-vault 







THOUGHT IT WOULD SHOW US THE WAY TO THE OUTER WORLD. Page 












OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


9 


when he dies. ‘ V. O. M.’ stands for ‘ Vicious 
Old Mule.’ ” 

We could not help but laugh at this, and while 
we laughed we drew closer and began to pick at 
the brickwork, which seemed to be loose. All at 
once half a dozen bricks fell down, revealing a 
black hole beyond. 

“ Hullo, we’re getting to somewhere ! ” cried 
Oliver. “ Let us see if we can’t enlarge that hole 
enough for a passageway.” 

All set to work willingly. Bricks and mortar 
seemed to be very loose, and in less than half an 
hour we had the stuff piled in a heap and there 
was revealed a small archway leading to a second 
vault, about one-third the size of that which we 
occupied. 

“ Too bad — I thought it would show us the 
way to the outer world,” said Oliver, taking up 
the candle again. “ But, come, let us go through 
and see what is on the other side.” 

He crawled ahead, with the candle, and Oliver 
and I came after him. Cobwebs were thick, and 
Oliver began to grumble. 

“ I’m catching them all,” he said. “ I should 
have let you go ahead.” 

“ That’s all right — you’re the leader of this 
funeral,” laughed Don. “ Take care you don’t 
drop into some hole. Remember, we are close 


10 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


to the side of the hill — if I know anything 
about it” 

Soon the three of us stood in the second vault, 
which was wet and filled with an odor far from 
agreeable. 

“ I don’t believe Mr. Narcross knows of this 
vault,” I said, as I looked around. 

“ It’s not likely. You know this house once 
belonged to some Spanish families — folks who 
came from the Philippines, I believe. They used 
to have large quantities of wine, I reckon. They 
got out when California was annexed to the 
United States.” 

“ Well, I don’t care who lived here, if only we 
can find a way out,” I said. 

Again we began to inspect the walls, and soon 
came upon a second archway, which was bricked 
up like the other, and just as loosely. At once 
Oliver pulled out several bricks. 

‘‘ Hurrah ! daylight ! ” he cried. 

He was right; from a considerable distance we 
could see the light of day, coming from a bend in 
a tunnel which, later on, proved to be nearly five 
hundred feet in length. 

I never dreamed the old ranch had so much 
of mystery about it ! ” exclaimed Don. ‘‘ I won- 
der what we’ll stumble upon next?” 

“ Don’t crow until we are out of the 



OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


woods/' said Oliver 
this?" 


^‘If we- 


What is 


Oliver stopped short and bent to the ground, 
for the vault had a dirt flooring. His foot had 
touched a ring of brass, much tarnished by the 
rust of years. 

“ A ring,” said I, and tried to pick it up, to find 
that it was fastened to a small slab of rock. Pull- 
ing with all my might, I brought up the rock, re- 
vealing underneath an aperture about twelve 
inches square and almost as deep. 

“ More mysteries ! ” ejaculated Don, and lean- 
ing over the hole he brought forth a brass-bound 
box. “ Plurrah, boys. I’ve struck a fortune! ” 

“ Whack, if you have ! ” I answered, and Oli- 
ver said “ whack ” too, not but what we always 
divided up anything that came to us. 

The box was almost the size of the hole. It 
was of some hard wood much the worse for 
dampness and age. The brass bands almost cov- 
- ered it, and it was tightly shut. 

“ I don’t see any way to open it,” said Don, 
turning it over. 

“ No keyhole? ” I queried. 

“ Nothing.” 

‘‘ But there must be some way to open it,” put 
in Oliver. “ Look again — or, here, take the 
candle, and I’ll look.” 






FORTUNE HUNTERS 


IJS 


Don took the light, and Oliver made a minute 
inspection. But it was useless — there was noth- 
ing in the shape of a keyhole to the box. 

“ Stumped,” growled my oldest brother. 

‘‘ Is the thing solid? ” I asked. Shake it.” 

Oliver did as I requested. No, it was hollow, 
and inside we could hear the rattle of something 
hard. 

“ Old Spanish gold — I’ll wager a new hat ! ” 
cried Don. “ I wonder how much? ” 

“ The box couldn’t contain over a thousand or 
two,” I returned. 

Not as much as that — by the weight,” put 
in Oliver. “ But let us go on. That candle 
won’t last more than ten or fifteen minutes 
longer.” 

But I want to see what is in the box,” 
grumbled Don. 

Nevertheless, he followed Oliver and me along 
the tunnel. It was a small, uncomfortable place, 
and before the end was gained we had to come to 
a halt. 

“ It’s going to be a tight squeeze,” said Oliver. 

But I reckon we can make it.” 

Putting out the candle, he fell flat and moved 
along like a snake, shoving the box before him. 
Silently Don and I came after him. The dirt 
almost blinded and choked us, but we kept on, and 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


13 


five minutes later came out into the daylight, at 
a point between two big rocks, and well sur- 
rounded by trees and bushes. 

We were free at last. 


CHAPTER III. 


WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED. 

I THINK it is time I mentioned something con- 
cerning the location of our guardian’s home. 

It was. a large place, having been built fully 
sixty years before the opening of my story. It 
was of brick and stone, and in the Spanish style 
of the past century. 

The house, or ranch as we boys termed it, sat 
on something of a hill, with a lawn sloping down 
to a cliff overlooking the river. 

To the left of the house was a second hill, 
backed up by a heavy wood. 

There was a path through the wood, and this 
brought one to the highway leading to San Fran- 
cisco. Oceanville proper lay half a mile in the 
opposite direction. 

Our guardian was fairly well-to-do, and hav- 
ing retired from his business in San Francisco 
was now interested in a sheep-ranch just beyond 
Oceanville. 

Where are we ? ” asked Don, as he rubbed 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


IS 

the dirt from his eyes. “ Ugh, what a nasty 
crawl that was ! 

“ We are in the woods on the side hill,” said 
Oliver. “ Don’t you see the river below us? ” 

“ By jinks ! and I thought we were coming out 
back of the ranch.” 

“ The passageway had a turn in it,” I put in. 
“ I’m glad we didn’t come out back of the house. 
If we had, Patrick might have collared us.” 

“ I don’t believe a soul about the place knows 
of that passageway,” said Oliver. 

“No, but they will know of it when they come 
to look for us,” said Don. “ And it won’t do for 
us to remain around here, either — unless we want 
to fall into Mr. Narcross’ clutches again.” 

“ Nevermore ! ” cried Oliver semi-tragically. 
“ Henceforth I am a free man ! ” 

“What’s the matter with being a free boy,” 
said Don. 

“ It’s the same thing, my child.” Oliver 
swung around on his heel. “ Do you fellows 
mean to give yourselves up ? ” he asked quickly. 

“No!” came in unison from Don and me; 
and the three of us shook hands. 

“If the box contains a fortune let us go into 
the broad world and reap the benefit thereof,” said 
Don, with a grandiloquent wave of his hand. 

“ Done,” said Oliver, and I nodded. 



1 6 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

Leaving the vicinity of the rocks, the three of 
us made our way through the brush to the top of 
the second hill. 

Here there was a summer-house, but the build- 
ing was fast falling into decay. 

But we boys went there frequently, and had 
many odds-and-ends of boyish possessions treas- 
ured up there. 

“ I wish I had a hat,’' said Don, as we moved 
along. “ I don’t want to start out into the world 
bareheaded.” 

“ There are several old hats and caps up at the 
Retreat,” I said. They are not very good, but 
they’ll be better than nothing.” 

“ Right you are, Frank,” said Don. And 
after we have broken open that box and got hold 
of the gold inside we can all buy silk stovepipes, 
eh?” 

We laughed and pushed on, and soon the Re- 
treat, as we called the old summer-house, was 
gained. No one was around, and going inside 
we took possession. The Retreat was well 
shaded with trees, and far below us glinted the 
waters of the broad river. 

“ Won’t Mr. Narcross be mad when he finds 
us gone? ” said Oliver. 

And won’t he be mystified when he can’t find 
out where we have gone to ? ” added Don. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


17 


‘‘ He’ll do his best to catch us,” I said. “ If 
we are really going away it won’t do to remain 
here too long.” 

“The thing of it is — where are we to go?” 
asked my oldest brother. 

“ The box — open the box first! ” cried Don. 

We were all willing enough to do that. But 
how to open the thing was a question. 

One after another tried his best to pull the 
cover back. Then Oliver got out his penknife 
and pushed it into a slit he had discovered. In- 
stantly the cover fell back as if by magic, being 
worked by a spring. 

We all started forward, to behold a chamois 
bag and a roll of parchment, along with a bundle 
of letters. 

“ The gold! ” cried Don, seizing the bag. He 
pulled open the string and turned the bag up, and 
down to our feet dropped just sixty large golden 
pieces of old Spanish money and three diamond 
rings. 

“ Sixty ! ” said Oliver, counting the pieces. 
“ I don’t know what they are worth, but I guess 
we have at least five hundred dollars here, not 
counting the diamond rings, which, if they are 
genuine, ought to be worth two or three hundred 
more.” 

For the time being all of us forgot the parch- 


l8 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

ment and the bundle of letters. Soon we divided 
the gold pieces and the rings evenly. 

“ We’ll do that, so if we become separated each 
will have his share,” said Oliver. 

We are not going to become separated,” I 
said. “ We must stick together.” 

“ Yes, we’ll stick together,” said Don. “ But, 
say, where are we going to get good money for 
this stuff — I mean money we can pass here? ” 

“We can have it exchanged down in San Fran- 
cisco,” said Oliver. “ It will not be difficult.” 

Having cooled down a little over the finding of 
the money and rings, we turned our attention to 
the parchment and the bundle of letters. The 
parchment was in two parts, and one part con- 
tained something of a rude map, drawn in red 
ink, with here and there a red cross. The other 
portion contained some writing in Spanish, of 
which I could make out only the single word, 
Manila. 

“ This is all Greek to me,” said I. 

“ It’s Greek to me, too,” said Don. “ Oliver, 
can’t you spell it out? You know a little Span- 
ish.” 

“ Oh, I suppose I can try,” grumbled my oldest 
brother. “ But I don’t believe the thing amounts 
to anything.” 

“ Maybe it is an old land-grant/’ I suggested. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


19 


If it is it is probably outlawed long since,’' 
said Oliver. See^ here is a date — 1796. Say, 
but this is old.” 

He began to spell out the document, which was 
much faded. At first he showed but little 
interest, but presently his eyes began to open and 
he read on with great eagerness. 

“Well, what is it?” demanded Don impa- 
tiently. 

“ Wait jus't a minute,” replied Oliver, and 
then, as he finished the document, he drew a long 
breath. “Well, I never!” 

“ What ? ” Don and I both cried. 

“ This document tells of a hidden treasure of 
diamonds, said to be secreted near the burning 
mountain, Kiwoku, on the island of Luzon, of 
the Philippines. It declares the treasure to be 
worth nearly one hundred thousand dollars ! ” 


CHAPTER IV. 


WE COME TO A DETERMINATION. 

A DIAMOND treasure ! ” I gasped. 

“ Worth one hundred thousand dollars ! ’’ 
ejaculated Don. “ Oh, Oliver, you are telling 
us a fairy story ! ” 

All right, then, read the document for your- 
self,” answered my oldest brother. 

But neither of us could do that, and we both 
begged him to read the parchment once more, and 
translate it as he went along. 

This Oliver did, with many a halt, for, as I said 
before, his knowledge of Spanish was none of the 
best. 

The gist of the document was that, years be- 
fore, a certain Tagal chief of the island of Luzon, 
named Kolo the Rich, had obtained a large quan- 
tity of diamonds from a Malay pirate-ship which 
had been wrecked on the northwest coast of the 
island. The diamonds had, at the death of Kolo 
the Rich, been turned over to his son, Kolo the 
Spear-eye, and this son had secreted them in a 
large cave of the burning mountain Kiwoku. 


20 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


21 


There were numerous directions for reaching the 
burning mountain, the trail leading through a 
country inhabited by a wild tribe of the Tagals 
called the Kana, meaning the eye-eaters, for in 
years gone by these people had been cannibals, 
and their greatest feast had been one of human 
eyes ! 

On the back of the parchment we were sur- 
prised to find some writing in English, showing 
that a certain Victor O. Munn had once searched 
for the treasure, but before finding it had been 
stricken with tropical fever and compelled to re- 
turn to the United States. 

“ I am satisfied that the treasure is there,” 
wrote this man. “ The natives occasionally talk 
about it, but dread going to the burning moun- 
tain, for they say that the ghost of a certain King 
Bili rules the mountain and will burn up anybody 
who touches the treasure. I found this out 
through Pando Kolo, one of the head spearmen 
of the Kanas, or Ingorotes. He wants the treas- 
ure very much, but is afraid to go for it. May 
somebody who finds this statement be more suc- 
cessful in the hunt than was I.” 

There was more than this, to the effect that 
Victor Munn was a single man, without relatives, 
and had gone to the Philippines more for adven- 
ture than anything. 


22 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


If I had a family I would fit out an expedi- 
tion to hunt for the treasure,” he wrote. “ But 
I am alone and leave this to whomsoever may 
find it.” 

And underneath all this writing were the 
words, heavily underscored : 

"" Look for the cafs-eye set in the white rock” 

“ Look for the cat’s-eye set in the white rock ! ” 
cried Don. “ What does Victor O. Munn mean 
by that?” 

“ It must be a sign at the opening to the treas- 
ure cave,” said I. “ The cat’s-eye may be a very 
precious stone.” 

“ Now we know what V. O. M. stood for at 
the entrance to the vault,” said Oliver. They 
are the initials of Mr. Munn’s name.” 

“ Did you ever hear of him? ” asked Don. 

Why, yes, father used to tell of him. He 
was an old California pioneer and a great hunter. 
He once killed a man in an election quarrel, and 
he had to leave between two days, as the say- 
ing is.” 

“Do you believe in this treasure?” I asked 
soberly. 

“I do ! ” cried both of my brothers simulta- 
neously. 


OP THE PHILIPPIHES. 


23 


Then we had better go in search of it.’’ 

“ Done ! ” cried Don, who always made up his 
mind to a thing on the spot. Then both he and I 
looked at Oliver. 

“ Humph ! that would be a big undertaking,” 
mused our older brother. “ Do you know how 
far the island of Luzon is from here? ” 

“ Almost to China,” I answered. 

“ Not quite, but it’s six thousand miles. And 
then we know very little of Luzon excepting that 
it is a Spanish colony, inhabited partly by Span- 
iards, Germans, and Americans, with thousands 
of partly civilized and savage natives living in the 
interior.” 

“ Never mind, we can find out in the atlas, and 
through other books,” said Don. 

“ You won’t find much,” I answered. “ The 
whole Philippines are a mere lot of dots in my 
geography.” And that was true, for at this time 
we had had no war with Spain, and we took no 
more interest in the Philippines than we did in 
any of the other colonies belonging to foreign 
nations. 

“ Do you mean to say you won’t go and hunt 
for this treasure? ” demanded Don. 

'' Oh, no, I don’t say that. But I do say that 
finding it will be no easy matter.” 

Never mind; we have the whole world before 


24 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


US,” said Oliver, with a strange look of determi- 
nation coming into his face. “ And we are 
settled that we won’t remain with Mr. Narcross.” 

“ Yes, that’s settled! ” cried both Don and 1. 

“ Then we go to Luzon. Hurrah for the Dia- 
mond Treasure I ” 

The three of us gave a cheer, and Don began to 
caper about the old summer-house as if possessed. 

“ We’ll come back rich I ” he ejaculated. 
“ And then we’ll snap our fingers at old Nar- 
cross.” 

The three of us sat in the summer-house for 
fully two hours talking over our plans. 

We arranged that we would remain around the 
place until nightfall and then sneak down to the 
river and board the Golden Spade, a small vessel 
running to San Francisco direct. 

Once in San Francisco we would exchange the 
old Spanish money for United States currency, 
and then procure passage on a steamer or sailing 
boat for Manila, the chief city of the island of 
Luzon. 

If we could not get passage to Luzon, we 
would take passage to some port in China and 
from there take another boat to the island of the 
treasure. 

We were all deeply interested, and almost felt 
as if that Diamond Treasure was already in our 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


25 


grasp. Alas ! little did we dream of all the perils 
in store for us while on our dangerous mission ! 

“ I know Captain Frankson of the Golden 
Spade quite well/’ said Oliver. “ He was a good 
friend to father. I think he will tell us all he can, 
if we ask him.” 

“ I wouldn’t ask a soul around here,” put in 
Don. “Ten chances to one. Captain Frankson 
would consider it his duty to hand us over to Mr. 
Narcross.” 

“ Don is right,” I broke in. “ He would say 
that for three boys to set off on such a hunt would 
be the wildest kind of nonsense.” 

“ All right, then; we won’t say a word to any- 
body till we get to San Francisco,” said our 
oldest brother, and so it was settled. 

By this time it was well along in the afternoon, 
and all hands were tremendously hungry. How 
to get something to eat was a problem. 

“ I wonder if I can’t sneak up to the house on 
the sly? ” I said. “ If anybody sees me I can run 
for it, you know.” 

“ It’s pretty risky,” said Oliver. “ Still, I 
think we ought to do something. But why not 
go down to the town for something? I’ve got 
thirty cents with me. That will buy a lot of stuff 
fit to eat without cooking.” 

“ All right, then, I’ll go to the town,” I said. 


26 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


'' Be sure and bring a pie,” put in Don. I 
can’t do without a ” He broke off short. 

Great Jee-rusalem ! Here comes Cal Bender 
up from the river ! ” 

All of us sprang forward and looked out to- 
ward the stream below us. Don was right; Cal 
Bender had tied up in a small sloop belonging to 
Mr. Narcross, and was coming up the steep path 
leading directly to our hiding-place! 










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CHAPTER V. 


A QUARREL IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE. 

I THINK it is time that I introduce Cal Bender 
to the reader, for this individual was destined to 
play a most important part in the trip to Luzon 
after the Diamond Treasure. 

Cal Bender was a tall, thin man of forty. He 
had once been a sailor, but had given up the sea 
to try his fortunes in the gold mines of Cali- 
fornia. 

He was a dark-eyed, scheming fellow, with a 
smooth tongue; and by his oily talk had induced 
our guardian to go into several mining ventures 
of a very hazardous nature. Although we did 
not know it at the time, we afterward learned that 
these ventures had all collapsed but a day or two 
before the trouble with Mr. Narcross which led 
to our being confined in the old wine-vault. 

I could never understand Cal Bender’s influence 
over our guardian, but it was a fact that Bender 
had the whole run of the home, and of the sheep- 

27 


28 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


ranch, and that Mr. Narcross trusted him far 
more than he deserved. 

All of us boys felt certain that Bender had 
taken our guardian’s money, yet it would have 
been impossible to prove it, had we been taken to 
a court of law for that purpose. The man was a 
downright sneak, and we could see it even if our 
guardian could not. 

But if we hated Bender, he likewise hated us, 
and we felt that he would like nothing better than 
to get us into trouble if he could do it. 

I might as well add here that in some of his 
mining adventures Cal Bender had had a partner, 
a Spaniard named Alfredo Boez. This Boez was 
even a worse villain than Bender, and long after 
the adventures of which I am going to tell took 
place we discovered that Boez was wanted for 
several crimes committed in Cuba, for he had 
once been a tobacco-planter on that island. From 
something Mr. Narcross had said, we were led to 
believe that Cal Bender and Alfredo Boez were 
no longer as friendly as they had been in days 
gone by. 

“ What shall we do ? ” asked Oliver, as we 
watched the approach of Cal Bender. 

“ We had better hide,” said Don. If he sees 
us he will surely tell old Narcross.” 

I don’t believe in running away from Ben- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 29 

der,” I put in. “ I believe it is he who has got 
ns in this trouble. Tve a good mind to tax him 
with taking the pocketbook.” 

“ By Jove, dare we do that? ” cried Oliver. 

“ I dare.” 

“ Then let us do it, Frank.” 

“ No use of talking — you fellows have nerve! 
came from Don. 

“ Won’t you stick by us? ” I asked. 

“ I will— to the end. And this for Mr. Cal 
Bender, if he gets too impertinent.” 

As Don finished he picked up a good-sized stick 
lying near. Seeing this Oliver and I also armed 
ourselves. 

By this time Cal Bender was close at hand, 
and in a moment more he stepped to the old 
summer-house door. He had one hand in a side 
pocket of his jacket and something stuck out at 
the corner of the pocket — something which I felt 
must be the end of our guardian’s pocketbook! 

“ \Yha— what, )^ou!” cried the man, as he 
caught sight of us, and for the instant I thought 
he was going to retreat. 

“Cal Bender, what brings you here?” de- 
manded Oliver. 

“Me? Haven’t I a right to come here if I 
want to? ” was the sharp return, as Bender began 
to recover himself, 


30 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ I suppose you have/’ 

“ I — I thought you were locked up? ” went on 
the man. Mr. Narcross told me he had put 
you in a Vvdne-vault for stealing.” 

“ Cal Bender ! ” I cried, you took that pocket- 
book!” 

“ Me ! ” he thundered, but turned white. 

“ Yes, you.” 

Why, you rascal ” 

“ It is in your pocket now ! ” I went on tri- 
umphantly. 

He fell back as if I had struck him a blow. 

“ In his pocket ? ” came from my two brothers. 
“ Are you sure, Frank? ” 

“Yes — don’t you see it sticking out?” I re- 
turned, and pointed with my hand. 

“ You — ^you are mistaken,” stammered Ben- 
der, turning from white to red. “ I never took a 
thing that wasn’t mine. I’ve a good mind to 
cowhide you for saying so.” 

“ Better try it on,” I answered boldly. 

He looked at the three of us, and at the sticks 
we had picked up. 

“ ril fix you! ” he snarled, and started to leave 
the summer-house. 

As quick as lightning Oliver, who had learned 
the trick at school, put out his foot and sent Cal 
Bender sprawling. Then before the man could 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 31 

arise, we all fell upon him and held him 
down. 

He roared like a bull, but it was no use, and as 
we held him, I put my hand in his pocket and 
pulled out the pocketbook in question. 

“ Here it is ! ” I cried triumphantly.* “ What 
did I tell you ! ” 

“ I don’t know anything about a pocketbook,” 
said the man sullenly. 

But I just took it out of your pocket.” 

“ No, you didn’t.” 

“ He did ! ” cried Don and Oliver. 

“ It’s no use to deny it,” said I. 

“ See what is in it,” said Oliver. We’ll hold 
him down. If you don’t lay still I’ll crack you 
on the head,” he added to the prisoner. 

I opened the pocketbook, to find that it con- 
tained just one five-dollar bill and a sheet of note- 
paper. The note-paper contained several lines 
of handwriting, of no importance, signed by 
Oliver. 

“ One of your notes ! ” I said. “ How did this 
get here? ” 

“ I know,” came from Don. “ Bender put it 
there. He was going to leave that pocketbook 
in the summer-house and then let Mr. Narcross 
find it and thus put the guilt on your shoul- 


32 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


By the way Cal Bender squirmed we could see 
that Don had struck the nail on the head. 

It’s a plot against me ! ” howled Cal, but be- 
fore he could say more Oliver jerked him to his 
feet and gave him a stinging box on the ear. 

“You miserable sharper!” cried my oldest 
brother. “ So you would lay your crime at my 
door, eh? Take that!” And he gave Bender 
another blow, on the other ear. 

This second blow made Cal Bender wild with 
rage, and breaking loose he sprang back into a 
corner of the summer-house. But we were be- 
tween him and the door and windows, so he could 
not escape. 

“ Let me go ! ” iTe hissed. 

“ We will not,” replied Oliver. 

“ You must. If you don’t you will be sorry 
for it.” 

“ You shall go to prison,” put in Don. 

Scarcely had my brother spoken when Cal Ben- 
der whipped a pistol from his pocket and pointed 
it at Don’s head. 

“ Out of my way, or I will fire,” he hissed. “ I 
am not to be balked by three good-for-nothing 
boys.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


IN WHICH I BORROW A SLOOP. 

The situation was certainly a thrilling one, for 
none of us had ever had a pistol pointed at him 
before, and Cal Bender looked just reckless 
enough to do almost anything. 

“ Put down that pistol,” said Oliver as steadily 
as he could. 

‘‘ I won’t. You let me pass,” answered Ben- 
der. 

He was facing Oliver and Don, and for the 
moment I seemed to be forgotten. 

I think that moment was our salvation, for 
raising my stick I brought it down with all force 
on his arm, nearly breaking the elbow. 

The pistol fell with a clatter to the floor, and 
Bender uttered a yell that could have been heard 
quarter of a mile away. 

Make him a prisoner, boys ! ” I shouted, and 
then Oliver and Don rushed in, and a fierce hand- 
to-hand struggle ensued which lasted for the best 
part of ten minutes. 

At the end of that time Oliver hit Bender on 


33 


34 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


the he^d, and the rascal went over on his back as 
if shot. 

Great Scott, have you killed him ! ” gasped 
Don. 

“ No, he is only unconscious,’' I answered, as I 
knelt at Bender’s side. “ What shall we do 
next?” 

That was a conundrum, but at last, making cer- 
tain that the man was fast coming to himself, we 
decided to tie his hands and feet, that he might 
not cause us any more trouble. 

He was opening his eyes when the last of the 
knots was fastened. 

Oh,” he groaned, and tried to sit up. “ You 
scamps ! ” 

“ Lie where you are. Bender,” said Oliver 
sternly. “ You are our prisoner.” 

‘‘ Prisoner ! ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ Let me go aj. once ! ” 

Again he tried to get free, but speedily found 
himself unable to move. Then Don picked up 
the pistol and pointed it at the rascal’s head. 

“ Now be quiet, or I’ll do some shooting,” he 
said, and at once Bender became as mute as a 
stone. 

We questioned him as to what Mr. Narcross 
was doing, but could not get a word out of him. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 35 

He saw the brass-bound box and eyed it curi- 
ously, but said nothing concerning it. He also 
saw the parchment, which had fallen to the 
ground during the struggle. 

Drawing a little to one side, we discussed the 
situation in a low tone, and Don urged that I go 
to the town and buy something to eat. 

“What’s the matter with taking the sloop?” 
said Oliver, and so it was arranged. 

Leaving my two brothers in charge of our pris- 
oner, if such Bender might be called, I stole down 
the path leading to the broad river. 

It was growing dark, and reaching the river 
bank I soon discovered that not a soul was in 
sight. 

The Sprite had once belonged to my father, and 
was as trim a craft as could be found anywhere. 

Going aboard, I ran up the mainsail and the 
jib, and with a stiff breeze blowing was soon on 
my way to Oceanville — certainly an odd name for 
a town that did not face the ocean at all, but was 
on a river — several miles from its mouth, too. 

I knew all about handling a sloop, so the trip 
to the town did not bother me in the least. 

Tying up at one of the public wharves, I ran 
up to the main store and soon invested the thirty 
cents in such things as we had decided to get. 

As I was leaving the store I saw Alfredo Boez 


3^ 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


talking to a stranger under the porch of the 
building. 

“ Yes, I leave for Manila at once,” Boez was 
saying. “ I have an important mission on the 
island of Luzon.” 

He spoke with his usual strong Spanish ac- 
cent, and I was at once interested. But before I 
could hear more the two men walked away, and, 
entering a carriage standing near, drove off. 

“ So he is going to the island of Luzon,” I 
mused. “ I wonder if we will meet him out 
there? ” 

Returning to the Sprite, I placed my purchases 
in the locker, and ran up the sails once more. 
The breeze was freshening, and I soon found that 
I had to take a reef in the mainsail. Then it be- 
gan to blow a regular gale, and I had to take in 
everything but the jib. 

“ Humph ! sailing the sloop is going to be no 
picnic,” I said to myself. “ How angry the 
river is getting! ” 

The whitecaps were piling up, one over an- 
other, and soon the Sprite was pitching and toss- 
ing in a fashion to make an ordinary landsman 
sick. However, I knew my course and kept to it. 
But I began to wonder how I was to make the 
landing below the old summer-house without 
going to pieces on the rocks. 






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OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


37 


Suddenly I heard a pistol shot, brought to my 
ears on a puff of wind. It came from where I 
had left my brothers. What did it mean ? Had 
Cal Bender got away from them and was an- 
other fight going on ? 

I was still quarter of a mile from the summer- 
house landing when another pistol shot rang out. 
Looking toward the shore I made out two figures 
running down the hill path, away from the sum- 
mer-house. The figures were those of Don and 
Oliver. 

They came along until they gained the water’s 
edge, and then I saw Don wave something white 
in the air. It ^ was evidently a signal meant for 
me. 

Without delay I ran the Sprite toward the 
point where my brothers were standing. 

As I did so I heard a yelling from the side of 
the hill. 

Mr. Narcross was coming after them ! 

“ Hi ! hi ! stop ! ” he yelled. “ Stop, boys, I 
command you ! ” 

“Take us on board, Frank!” cried Oliver. 
“ Hurry up, or it will be too late.” 

“ I can’t run in close here,” I answered. “ It’s 
too shallow. Wade out a bit.” 

They did as I urged, and soon, as the Sprite 
glided by, both seized the sloop’s side and 


38 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


scrambled on board. At the same time I put up 
the mainsail again, the wind having gone down a 
little. 

“ Boys! boys! do you hear me? ” stormed Mr. 
Narcross, as he reached the water’s edge and 
stood there shaking his fist at us. 

“We hear you perfectly, Mr. Narcross,” an- 
swered Oliver. 

“ Come back, then.” 

“ We don’t intend to come back.” 

“What! How dare you disobey me!” 
stormed our guardian. 

“ You had no right to lock us in the wine- 
vault,” put in Don. 

“ I had the right — after you had acted like a set 
of thieves.” 

“ Mr. Narcross, we didn’t take your pocket- 
book,” said Oliver, as calmly as he could. “ Cal 
Bender took that. That is why we had the fight 
with him.” 

“ Calvin Bender ! Impossible ! ” 

“ It is true. We found the pocketbook on 
him. But it contained only five dollars — which 
lies in the summer-house still.” 

“ Calvin is no thief.” 

“ Yes, he is,” I put in. “ He is not only a thief, 
but a sneak in the bargain. You ought to beware 
of him.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 39 

“ Don’t talk, Frank. Turn that boat around 
at once.” 

“ Don’t you do it,” came from both Don and 
Oliver, in a low tone. 

“ I don’t mean to,” I answered. 

“ Mr. Narcross, we are going away,” called out 
Oliver, for we were now some distance from 
where our guardian stood. “We have taken 
nothing belonging to you, and we do not intend 
to be locked up like criminals. Some day we are 
coming back, and then we shall expect you to 
make a strict accounting of all the money you 
have that is coming to us.” 

“ Oliver, how you talk ! Come back instantly.” 

“ We are not coming back.” 

“ Ha ! do you mean to say you intend to run 
away? ” 

“ That is the size of it. And we are going 
where you will not be able to find us.” 

“ Chicago is a big city, remember,” put in Don, 
to throw him off the track. 

By this time we were too far off to continue the 
talk, and although Mr. Narcross continued to 
shout after us we could not make out what he 
said. Soon the darkness hid him completely 
from our view. 


CHAPTER VIL 


ON THE WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO. 

'' Well, we’ve broken loose for fair now,” was 
Oliver’s comment, as he sat down to discuss the 
situation. “ The question is, what shall we do 
next? ” 

Tell me what happened first,” I said. 

There isn’t much to tell,” said Don. “ You 
had been gone about an hour when we discovered 
old Narcross looking for us. We went, out of 
the summer-house to watch him, and while we 
were gone Cal Bender broke loose. Oliver or- 
dered him to stop and fired the pistol off to scare 
him, but it was no use. Then Mr. Narcross 
came after us, and followed us down to the river 
bank. We fired the second shot to attract your 
attention.” 

“ And Bender got away ? ” 

“ Yes, and without Narcross seeing him, too,” 
answered Oliver. 

“ I wonder if Mr. Narcross will suspect him, 
after what we said? ” I ventured. 

Oliver shrugged his shoulders. 


40 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


41 


“ I hardly think so,” he answered. Mr. Nar- 
cross is down on us.” 

But for once we were mistaken. Long after- 
ward we discovered that Mr. Narcross was honest 
in his purpose, and we learned, too, that he took 
Cal Bender to task for the robbery of the pocket- 
book and made it so hot for the villain that Cal 
was glad enough to leave the vicinity of Ocean- 
ville; and that was the last that locality ever saw 
of him. 

“ Well, if we have the brass-bound box safe I 
don’t see why we can’t run right down to San 
Francisco in the Sprite,” I said, a few minutes 
later. “ The sloop virtually belongs to us.” 

“ By George ! that’s an idea ! ” cried Don. 
“ Good for you, Frank! ” 

“ Yes, but we haven’t any of our clothing with 
us,” said Oliver. 

“ We’ve got what we have on,” answered Don. 
“How many suits do you want to wear at a time, 
anyway? ” 

There was a laugh at this, but our elder brother 
shook his head. 

“ No, I won’t go entirely empty-handed,” he 
said. “ I believe we can run up to the house to- 
night, if we are cautious about it. Ten to one, 
Mr. Narcross will go off to hunt us up, and he 
won’t think of looking for us close by.” 


42 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ You have the parchment safe? ’’ I asked, as, 
upon opening the box, I saw only the bag of gold 
coins there. 

“ Why, yes — here,” answered Oliver, and then 
as he put his hand in his side pocket he turned 
pale. No, I haven’t it after all. I must have 
dropped it in the summer-house.” 

We all gave a groan. 

“ In that case the jig’s up! ” wailed Don. 

“ Up ? ” cried Oliver. “ Nonsense. Why, I 
can remember everything that the parchment con- 
tained.” 

'' But we ought to try and get it back,” said I 
earnestly. 

We talked for the best part of an hour and then 
came to anchor on the other side of the river to 
where Mr. Narcross’ place was situated. 

At nine o’clock it was very dark, heavy clouds 
covering the face of the moon and the stars. 
Then we moved up close to the end of Mr. Nar- 
cross’ garden, and Oliver went ashore, leaving 
Don and I in possession of the Sprite. 

We lay near a rocky embankment at the 
top of which was a small platform with an 
arbor. 

Oliver was gone a long while, — much longer 
than we expected, — and during his absence Don 
and I talked over our future, and wondered if the 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


43 


trip to far-away Luzon would result in the find- 
ing of the Diamond Treasure. 

Presently a noise in the arbor above caused us 
to start up. 

“ Somebody is there ! ’' I cried, and saw a figure 
hurry away. 

“ I think that was Alfredo Boez ! '' whispered 
Don. “ But I am not sure! 

He’ll go and tell Mr. Narcross we are here ! ” 
I gasped. “ Shall we push off? ” 

“ And leave Oliver? No, Frank, that wouldn’t 
be square.” 

“ I don’t mean to leave Oliver. We can 

Here comes Oliver now ! ” 

I was right; and two minutes later Oliver was 
on board, bringing with him two valises full of 
clothing. He was all out of breath with running. 

“ Mr. Narcross is away, and I got into the 
house with ease,” he said. “ I guess I’ve got all 
the clothing we will want.” 

“ But what kept you so long? ” I asked, as we 
shoved off once more. 

“ I ran up to the summer-house, to see if I 
couldn’t find out something about that parchment 
map and the letters,” he said. 

“ And did you find anything? ” asked Don. 

“ No. I think Cal Bender picked them up.” 

Again we talked the matter over, and I told 


44 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Oliver of the man who had sneaked away from 
the arbor. 

“ I don’t like Boez any more than I do Ben- 
der,” I said. “ And I am pretty sure it was the 
Spaniard.” 

“ Well, let the matter go,” answered my older 
brother. “ We’ll soon be leaving all of the others 
behind. But I wish I had got that map,” he 
added reflectively. 

Fortunately for all of us, Oliver was a better 
sailor than either Don or myself, and knew the 
coast perfectly. He handled the Sprite like an 
old seaman, and all night long kept the sloop to 
her course, while Don and I slept. 

By morning we were in sight of the Golden 
Gate, and he took a nap, leaving me to steer, with 
Don to assist. 

That afternoon found us in San Francisco. At 
one of the docks we found an old sailor who lived 
in Oceanville, and he readily consented to deliver 
the sloop to Mr. Narcross and say nothing about 
where he had met us. 

Our next move was to a banking office where 
we could get the old Spanish gold exchanged. 
After hunting around for an hour we found what 
we wanted, and here we received just five hun- 
dred and sixty dollars in crisp, new United States 
Treasury notes. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


45 


‘‘ My, but that’s a small fortune to begin on ! ” 
cried Don. “No deception about that, no matter 
how the Diamond Treasure may pan out.” 

That night we slept at a modest hotel in the 
center of the city. We were up early, and imme- 
diately visited the shipping and were fortunate 
enough to run across the tramp steamer Golden 
Rover, bound for Singapore with a miscellaneous 
cargo. 

“ Yes, I shall stop at Manila, on the island of 
Luzon,” said Captain Bartell, “ but I don’t know 
as I am looking for passengers.” 

We talked the matter over with him, and at 
last he agreed to take us for seventy-five dollars 
each, providing, as we knew a little about ships, 
that we would “ lend a hand ” if a storm or sick- 
ness made it necessary for him to call upon us. 
As a matter of fact, he was short-handed, but he 
did not let us know this until we were well out 
on the Pacific. 

The start was made on the following day, and 
my readers can rest assured that all of us kept out 
of sight in the meantime, fearing that Mr. Nar- 
cross might be around to spot us. But nobody 
came, and we left the United States without a 
friend or an enemy being the wiser. 


CHAPTER VIIL 


ON THE WAY TO MANILA. 

It is not my purpose in this story to tell of all 
that happened on that long trip from San Fran- 
cisco to Manila, the capital city of the island of 
Luzon. 

Were I to relate in detail all of our adventures, 
and tell of the many storms we encountered, I 
could readily fill a book by itself, and the story 
of our treasure hunt would have to wait. But 
this I am sure would suit no one who chances to 
peruse my narrative. 

The storms were fearful, especially after we 
had passed the Sandwich Islands, and once it 
looked as if we must go to the bottom. In conse- 
quence of the weather our voyage lasted fully a 
month longer than anticipated. 

But the storms were not as bad as the mutiny 
we had on board. 

The mate started this, followed up by three of 
the worst sailors on the ship, and for nearly a 
week we had continual fighting, until the captain 
clapped the mate in irons. 

46 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


47 


Captain Bartell had his wife and some female 
relatives on board of the ship, and these women 
folks were afraid he would be shot down in cold 
blood. And we were afraid this might happen, 
too. 

“ We are with you, captain,’' said Oliver, when 
the master of the ship once came to us. ‘‘ Nixon 
ought to be in irons.” 

“'True, lad,” said the captain. “But I am 
afraid Nixon will cost me much trouble when we 
get to Manila. He has an uncle there who owns 
a one-third interest in this ship.” 

Nixon, who was the mate, had tried to be very 
friendly with me, but I did not like his manner, 
and avoided him. Now, being locked up in one 
of the staterooms, he tried one day to make 
friends again. 

“The captain is wrong, Frank,” he said. 
“ Just you help me to gain my liberty, and I will 
pay you well for it.” 

But I refused his offer, and then he began to 
call me names and used language which I shall 
not transcribe to these pages. 

So the days went on until we turned the south 
point of the island of Formosa and stood down 
the western shore of the island of Luzon. Once 
some of the foremast hands tried to liberate the 
mate, but Captain Bartell caught them at it, and 


48 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


one sailor was shot in the leg. After that the 
captain was absolute master until we tied up at 
the long wharf in Manila harbor. 

But before we reached Manila Bay an incident 
happened which I shall never forget. Don was 
fishing one afternoon when of a sudden the 
steamer gave a lurch, and in a twinkle he went 
flying overboard into the China Sea. 

“ Man overboard ! ” sang out somebody, and a 
rush was made, Oliver being in the lead. 

“ It’s Don ! ” he cried. 

“ Help ! help ! ” came from Don. I’m all 
tangled up in the fish-line ! ” 

“ I’ll help you ! ” cried Oliver, and mounting 
the rail, he made a dive to Don’s assistance. I 
had been below, and came up just in time to see 
him disappear beneath the waves. 

It was no light task for Oliver to swim to Don’s 
side, and before he reached him Don had gone 
under. 

But Oliver was brave — he always had been, 
and I think he always will be — and he went down, 
too, and soon came up with Don’s form in his 
arms. 

“ Can you hold him up ? ” I shouted. 

“ Yes, but bring a boat! ” cried Oliver. 

As quickly as it could be accomplished, a small 
boat was lowered, and I entered it along with sev- 


HE MADE A DIVE TO DON’S ASSISTANCE. — Page 48 . 





I 


*r 






• ^ 















■- ^.'V- -'. . ., 





OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


49 


eral sailors. Soon we were alongside of Oliver 
and Don, and hauled them on board. 

Then we learned how near to death Don had 
been. The fish-line had become entangled about 
his throat, and it was so tight that it had almost 
strangled him. 

“ I was afraid I was a goner ! ” he said, after 
he was taken back on board and made comfort- 
able. I never want another such experience.” 

It was night when we went into Manila Bay, 
and it was not until the following morning that 
we tied up in front of the quaint old city, lying 
on both sides of the River Pasig. 

The mate was allowed to go on shore, and he at 
once reported to his rich uncle that Captain Bar- 
tell had abused him. Soon after this there was a 
row all around, and the upshot of the matter was 
that Captain Bartell gave up the ship, and he 
aad his wife and female relatives came ashore bag 
and baggage and put up at one of the old- 
fashioned Spanish hotels of which Manila 
boasted. 

“ I have some money,” he said to Oliver. I 
shall live here for a while and then go to Hong 
Kong, where I am sure I can get another vessel. 
I don't want to work under any such firm as that. 
But, boys, now you are in Manila, tell me what 
you intend to do ? ” 


50 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ We are going to seek our fortune/’ said 
Oliver. 

At this the captain laughed. All right, I 
hope you find it,” he said. “ But I don’t know 
what three live Americans are going to do among 
these Spaniards, and Malays, and Tagals, and 
Kanas, and I don’t know what all.” 

Well, we are going to look around first,” said 
Don; and there the talk dropped. 

My brothers and I remained in the city of Ma- 
nila nearly three weeks, during which time we 
became pretty well acquainted with the surround- 
ings and also learned the direction to be taken to 
reach the burning mountain Kiwoku, which was 
located many days’ journey back from the sea- 
coast. 

One day Don, who had been taking a stroll 
about the government buildings in what is called 
Old Manila, came bursting into the hotel room 
full of excitement. 

“Wonders will never cease!” he cried. 
“ Who do suppose I met awhile ago ? ” 

“ Who? ” I asked. 

“ First I met Alfredo Boez and a little later I 
met — can you believe me — Cal Bender I ” 

“ Impossible 1 ” gasped Oliver, while I stared 
at Don in open-mouthed amazement. 

“ Yes, and that isn’t all,” went on Don. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


SI 

Bender was talking to a native, and I heard 
him ask the Tagal if he had ever heard of a Kana 
by the name of Pando Kolo.” 

‘‘ Great Caesar ! He is after our treasure ! ” I 
ejaculated. “ He must have that parchment.'' 


CHAPTER IX. 


A TRIP INTO THE INTERIOR. 

My brothers instantly agreed that I must be 
right — that Cal Bender must have the precious 
document beyond a doubt. 

Now what is to be done? ” asked Oliver. 

‘‘ Where did Cal Bender go ? ” I asked. 

“ I don’t know,” answered Don. 

‘‘ If we can find him we must get the document 
away from him,” said I. 

But finding Bender was not so easy. We 
looked for him for several days. Then I ran 
across him in a hardware store, whither I had 
gone to buy a pistol previous to our setting out 
for the interior of the island. 

A wordy war followed, and when I tried to de- 
tain Bender he struck me a blow in the face that 
nearly knocked me senseless. When I got up he 
was gone. 

'' Dat’s one bad man,” said the keeper of the 
store. After dis you bettair keep away from 
heem.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


53 


“ I am not afraid of him,” said I, but I deter- 
mined in the future to be on my guard against 
Cal Bender. 

In the meantime Oliver and Don ran across 
Alfredo Boez. Whether or not the Spaniard 
knew what had brought us to the islands, they did 
not learn, but they said Boez treated them coldly 
and growled out something that Mr. Narcross 
had cheated him in a mining deal. 

“ He is an enemy, as is Bender,” said Oliver. 
“ We want to beware of both of them.” 

It's too bad,” I said. “ I am afraid we'll 
have trouble enough here with the natives, with- 
out having trouble with such people as Boez and 
Bender, too.” 

Careful inquiry had elicited the information 
that Pando Kolo lived up in the vicinity of the 
Laguna de Bay, and hither we determined to 
make our way on horseback in search of the 
fellow. 

“ If we can only hire him for a guide we’ll be 
all right,” said Don. 

Yes, unless he has us murdered when he 
learns that we want the Diamond Treasure,” I 
answered. 

We were soon on our way, having hired three 
of the best horses we could find in the sleepy old 
city. At first the road was fair, but soon it grew 


54 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


rough and mountainous, with rocks on one side 
and a veritable jungle on the other. 

“ A good place to meet brigands,'’ observed 
Oliver, as we rode along. Boys, I am afraid 
that traveling to the burning mountain is going 
to be no picnic.” 

At noon we stopped at a small village for re- 
freshments and then pushed on straight for the 
shore of the Laguna de Bay. We moved on 
steadily until sunset, but no large body of water 
put in an appearance. 

“ Here’s a mess ! ” declared Don. “ I think 
we’ve lost our way.” 

“ It looks like it,” I answered. “ Oliver, what 
do you think about it? ” 

“ Humph! something is wrong,” grumbled my 
oldest brother. 

As in all tropical localities, it began to grow 
dark rapidly, until we could see but little along 
the roadway, with its tangle of trees, bushes, and 
trailing vines. 

Suddenly a wild unearthly shriek arose on the 
air, causing our hair to fairly stand on end. The 
shriek frighterfed even the horses, and they 
pranced about madly, giving us all we could do 
to stop them. 

“ What in the world can that mean ? ” asked 
Don. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


55 


Don't ask me,” I answered, with a shiver. 

I never heard such a scream in my whole life 
before. Somebody must be getting murdered.” 

“ Maybe it was a monkey,” suggested Oliver, 
but his tone told that he did not mean what he 
said. 

“A monkey!” said Don. “No, that was a 
human being. Whoa, there, whoa ! ” 

For his horse would not stand still, nor would 
mine, and up the road we tore at a mad gallop, 
Oliver bringing up the rear. On and on, and still 
on, until a rocky barrier barred our further 
progress. 

“ Now we have lost the way completely,” 
groaned Don. “ We must go back the way we 
came.” 

“ Here is another trail,” I answered, peering 
around in the darkness. 

“ Yes, but who knows where it leads to? ” said 
Oliver. “ We don’t want to ride into any pit- 
fall.” 

“ We will advance slowly,” I said. “ Come 
on.” 

Anything was better than remaining there in 
that dark and lonely spot, and so on we went, but 
with great caution, remembering the awful 
sounds we had heard but a short while before. 

Yet now it was silent, only the cries of the night 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


56 

birds and the humming of the insects breaking 
the stillness. 

‘‘ If that was murder being committed we must 
have a care,” said Oliver. “ I believe this road 
is taking us back to where we came from, or 
pretty close to it.” 

The horses were restless, showing that some- 
thing was wrong, and we moved along at little 
better than a slow walk, each in the meantime 
keeping eyes and ears wide open for the first sign 
of danger from any quarter. Then it began to 
rain, at first lightly and soon in a perfect torrent. 

Presently we came to a slight bend in the road. 
Here there was a pool of water, and moving 
around this, we espied, on our right, in a dense 
mass of shrubbery, a hut built of stone and 
thatched with a grass-like material. We brought 
our horses to a standstill and began to inspect the 
place. A dark form appeared at what looked 
like a doorway in the hut, and gazed toward us — 
as we could tell by its position. 

Don advanced his horse ajittle ahead of ours 
and began to interrogate the dark figure. “ Can 
we get shelter here ? ” he asked, bending forward 
in the saddle. 

“ We wish to get something to eat,” I put in, 
for I was exceedingly hungry. 

The figure motioned to us to go away. Don 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


57 


renewed his efforts at conversation, and Oliver 
and I joined in, but the figure only motioned to 
us to depart. As we persisted in our efforts the 
motions became the more frantic, and we were 
very much puzzled. Finally it seemed so funny, 
in spite of the uncanny time and place, that 
we could hardly restrain ourselves from laugh- 
ing. 

When we did so, the man — for such it was — 
disappeared within the hut, presently to return 
accompanied by a tall, thin woman who raised her 
voice in frantic denunciation of us and bidding 
us be gone and threatening us with all manner of 
evil. 

“ What will we do now ? ” said Don, turning to 
Oliver and myself with a comical look on his face. 
These people seem to be afraid to entertain us,” 
he continued. “ They must suspect that we want 
to injure them.” 

While Don was saying this I had dismounted 
to tighten a buckle on my horse. As I bent down 
to take hold of the strap a shot rang out and my 
horse gave a plunge that sent me sprawling into 
a dense undergrowth by the roadside. My horse 
galloped madly away, with Don and Oliver after 
him to prevent his escape. 

I gathered myself up as quickly as possible, and 
scrambled out to the road. The two people at 


58 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


the hut had disappeared, and although I could 
hear the hoof-beats on the trail that Oliver and 
Don had taken my brothers were out of sight. I 
was alone on a strange road. The firing of the 
shot was somewhat disconcerting. , I knew not 
whence it had come, nor the reason for it. 

While I was deliberating what was to be done, 
I was suddenly seized from behind and thrown 
violently to the ground. I struggled to free my- 
self and to get a look at my assailant. I soon 
found out that I had two persons to deal with. 
Being a fair wrestler, I managed to give them a 
good tussle, but as the odds were against me I 
soon felt that I could not maintain the unequal 
struggle. 

With my whole strength exerted in a supreme 
effort, I pushed away one of my assailants and 
kicked the other under the jaw. With a howl of 
rage and pain this one seized a large stone in the 
road and hurled it at me with all his might. In 
an instant I saw that it was Cal Bender who had 
cast the stone. 

I dodged, and the missile flew by in dangerous 
proximity to my head. Realizing my danger at 
the hands of Cal Bender, who I now knew was 
capable of any desperate villainy, I whipped out 
my revolver, resolved to defend myself by any 
means. Bender made a move to get his own 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


59 


pistol, when I called on him to desist, threatening 
to kill him where he stood if he made another 
move. 

The villain was blind with rage when he found 
that he was balked, and he let loose a torrent of 
vile abuse that made my blood boil with anger. 
His companion, a low squat fellow of disagree- 
able appearance, whom I afterward learned he 
had picked up in Manila, was disposed to quit 
the scene the moment I had drawn my revolver. 
He spoke to Bender in a low tone, and I then 
thought that he was urging Cal to drop the busi- 
ness in hand and peg out. Bender was sulky be- 
cause of his situation and wanted to parley. I 
hoped to detain them long enough to give Don 
and Oliver a chance to get back. I longed to re- 
gain possession of the map which I felt sure that 
Bender had in his keeping. With this end in 
view, I began to devise some means of getting it 
back. Resolving on a bold course, I demanded 
of the rascal that he give me the document as a 
prerequisite to his liberty. 

‘‘ Haint got no map ! ” he cried, shaking his 
head from side to side and cautiously advancing 
toward me. 

I warned him that if he made another move 
like it I would put a ball into him. This brought 
him to terms, and he began to whine that he knew 


6o 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


nothing about a map — never had one, and did not 
know what I meant. 

“ Then why did you attack me a while ago? 

I asked. “ Why are you hunting up Pando 
Kolo?” 

“ Who says Pm looking for Pando Kolo? It’s 
false ! ” he yelled. 

“ Oh, no, it’s not false ! ” I replied steadily — 
“ its the truth, and you would not have known 
anything of Kolo if you had not stolen the map.” 

Bender fumed, and denied all knowledge of 
Kolo and the map; he protested that I was en- 
tirely mistaken in him — that he was only an 
unfortunate man with appearances against 
him. 

The lying hypocrisy of the fellow disgusted me, 
and I was fast losing my patience when I heard 
the sound of hoof-falls on the road; Bender and 
his companion heard the sounds at the same time, 
and grew extremely anxious to get away. I 
threatened to shoot them if they made any move- 
ment looking toward escape. 

At last Don and Oliver appeared. They had 
regained my horse. Great was their surprise 
when they beheld me with drawn pistol holding 
Cal Bender and his companion at bay. 

“ Here’s a ^ how-d’ye-do ’ ! ” cried Don. 
‘‘ What’s up now, Frank? ” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 6 1 

Well, if that isn’t Bender ! ” exclaimed Oli- 
ver, after a long-drawn whistle. 

“ Gents,” whined Bender, “ this is all a mis- 
take.” 

“ No mistake about it,” I interposed. “ You 
must give up the map you stole and tell us where 
Kolo is before we let you go.” 

“ Don’t know anything about this Kolo nor 
the map,” persisted Bender. 

“ Then we’ll have to search you,” said Don, 
getting down from his horse and fastening the 
animal with my own to a near-by tree. Oliver 
did the same with his horse. 

Advancing toward the two villains, Don and 
Oliver soon laid hands on Cal Bender. Cover- 
ing the other one with my pistol now that Cal 
was being attended to, I soon convinced him that 
it would be wise for him to offer no interference 
in the search of Cal Bender’s person. 

Don drew forth from an inner pocket of Ben- 
der’s shirt a packet of papers. Searching through 
them, he failed to discover the map. 

‘‘ It’s just as I told you, boys,” whined the ras- 
cal. “ There’s no map that I’ve got.” 


CHAPTER X. 


PANDO KOLO. 

Don was nonplused for a moment. Perhaps 
Bender was telling the truth, after all. It seemed 
so, but I was perfectly sure that Cal Bender was 
a consummate villain, and a villain is always a 
falsifier. 

‘‘ Make him take off his shoes ! ” I cried. 
“ Look them through and through.” 

“ There’s nothing there,” protested Bender 
sulkily. 

“ Cut them open ! ” said Oliver. ‘‘ We’ll see 
if you are lying or not.” 

Bender struggled, but Don and Oliver soon 
had him down, and his shoes were taken off after 
a bit of a struggle. 

A careful search revealed a bit of parchment 
concealed in the shoe. Oliver held it up trium- 
phantly. “ Here it is at last! ” he cried jubilantly. 

Bender fumed and raved like a pirate. His 
rage was wicked, and an evil look of cunning shot 
from his eyes that boded us ill. 

6 ? 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 63 

“ You can go now,” said Don, flinging Ben- 
der’s shoes toward him. 

“ Not yet ! ” I cried, in excitement. “ He must 
tell us where we can find Pando Kolo.” 

“ You’ll never find him,” said Cal Bender with 
a hiss of hate. “ Dead men tell no tales.” . 

I was seized with a sudden fear that Pando 
Kolo was dead, killed by Bender — perhaps after 
he had found out something from the native. 

“ You have killed him, then ! ” I cried. “ His 
blood is on your hands! We heard his cries. 
We can’t let you go. You must answer for this.” 

I had scarcely spoken when Bender struck at 
Don, who had reached out to seize him. Don 
being off his guard momentarily was thrown 
down. Oliver jumped for Bender, but the man 
eluded him and made for the undergrowth with 
great speed. I pointed my pistol at him and fired. 
By this time Don was on his feet again, and gave 
chase. In the melee Bender’s companion darted 
away. 

Oliver and I followed after Don. We pene- 
trated the brush for some distance, but we could 
see nothing of Bender. After beating about for 
some time we started to return to our horses. As 
we came back we passed close to the thatched hut. 
There was a light within, and we heard voices. 

Peering through a crack in the door jam, I saw 


64 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


inside the hut the tall thin woman and her com- 
panion. They were engaged in an excited con- 
fab. The man was throwing his arms up and 
down and talking volubly. The woman, with 
long tangled masses of hair hanging down her 
back and over her face, partly concealing her 
features, was rocking to and fro, her eyes roll- 
ing wildly and her lips moving excitedly. Their 
words were in a tongue foreign to me. 

“ Come, come,” said Don, tapping me on the 
shoulder; “ let us get out of this.” I turned to 
answer him when the door suddenly opened, and 
I was confronted by the tall, thin woman. Go 
Tvay, white man,” she said, pushing me aside. 

I saw that she was in great distress, and sudden 
pity for her arose in my heart, and I asked her in 
a kindly way if I could be of any service to her. 
She did not seem to understand my words fully, 
but I think my manner must have impressed her. 
For answer she motioned to me to go inside the 
hut. 

As I was about to comply with her bidding, 
Oliver urged me not to go, and so did Don, who 
was anxious to get back to the road, for the rain 
was letting up. Telling them to go on, and that 
I would shortly follow, I went into the hut. As 
I entered the tall woman followed me. When we 
were inside we were joined by the native man. I 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


65 


looked at him inquiringly. The woman said a 
few words to him, and he took me into a kind of 
recess behind a screen of bamboo. There a man 
lay on a low couch. By the dim light of a lamp 
stuck in a corner I saw by his features that he was 
a Tagal or a Kana. 

What is the matter with him ? ” I asked. 

Who is he? 

“ Him Pando Kolo, and him hurt,’’ answered 
the man, as he drew down an old quilt that cov- 
ered the form on the couch. 

“ Pando Kolo ! ” I exclaimed, for I was truly 
startled to meet the man we were searching for, 
in this way and under such circumstances. 

“ Yes, this Pando Kolo, the Diamond King,” 
said the woman, drawing closer. 

“ How was he hurt ? Who did it ? ” I asked, 
turning from one to the other. Then Bender’s 
words came back to me : “ Dead men tell no 
tales.” 

I examined the man as well as I could, and I 
found a large welt on the back of his head. He 
had evidently been struck a tremendous blow by 
a bludgeon. He was still alive, though it was a 
great wonder that he had not died at once. 

I learned that Pando Kolo was a relative of the 
couple that lived in the hut, and sometimes he 
made long stays with them. 


66 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Wishing to learn what I could, I asked why he 
was called the Diamond King, when they started 
in to tell me a long tale of how another relative 
had become possessed of a secret and which had 
been transmitted to Pando Kolo, but so far as 
anything definite was concerned, I learned noth- 
ing but what the parchment revealed. Kolo held 
the secret fast. I then thought — and it has since 
proven correct — that Bender had been unable to 
obtain the secret from the native and in his rage 
had attempted to kill him. 

The injured man moved uneasily, and began 
to moan. Telling the woman to get some hot 
water ready, I left the hut to consult with Oliver 
and Don. Gaining the road, I was met by Oliver 
and informed that when they had come back the 
horses were gone. Don was down the road some 
distance looking for them. It suddenly flashed 
on me that Cal Bender and his companion had 
doubled on their tracks and stolen the horses. 
Whistling for Don soon brought him to us, and I 
then informed both of the presence of Kolo in the 
hut and that the loss of our horses would not 
matter very much, seeing that the object of our 
trip was nearly accomplished. They both agreed 
with me. 

We walked to the hut, and there did what we 
could for Kolo’s comfort. Hot bandages were 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 67 

applied, and the tall woman brought out such 
simple curatives as she had in the place. 

During the night we were told by the tall 
woman that she had discovered Pando Kolo just 
back of the hut in the early part of the evening. 
He was lying face down and unconscious. 

We promised to watch over the Tagal during 
the night, and the native couple retired to get a 
little sleep. 

Don, Oliver, and myself took turns in watching 
over Pando Kolo, and in studying the map which 
we had recovered 

An examination of the ancient parchment re- 
vealed the fact that nothing had been done with 
the copy. We were glad that Bender no longer 
had a guide to the treasure spot. It was unlikely 
that his memory would retain all the directions it 
contained. Yet there was the possibility of his 
stumbling across the cave where the diamonds 
were concealed. 

Pando Kolo moved uneasily in his stupor, and 
words escaped from his lips that greatly excited 
me. I was near the couch, and Don and Oliver 
were engaged in a soft-spoken conversation a 
little way off. I raised my hand warningly to 
my comrades, and bent my head down low over 
Kolo so that not a word he might say should es- 
cape me. 


68 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Diamond King ! he said, breathing heavily, 
me Diamond King. Rich now. No work any 
more. Bili jealous; try to burn me, but I must 
have them. Not afraid any more.” Then fol- 
lowed what sounded like a lot of gibberish to me, 
but I think now that it must have been the native 
tongue. Through it all there ran a superstitious 
fear of Bili, the Fire-King of the natives. 

For some time Kolo lay silent, not a sound es- 
caping his lips. He tossed about, and we waited 
anxiously for him to speak. There was perfect 
silence in the whole hut, when the cry of a bird in 
the forest aroused the man again. He started 
up and tried to rouse himself, but he fell back ex- 
hausted with the effort. 

“ The sun rises ! ” he murmured, placing his 
hands to his face. “ Four hours’ journey and I 
shall be the Diamond King.” 

“ Let me take a hand in this, Frank,” whispered 
Oliver, coming closer to the couch. 

‘‘ What do you mean ? ” I asked my brother 
with considerable curiosity. 

“ You will see,” he answered, bending close to 
Kolo. Then he began to speak in a low, soft, 
musical tone. 

“ Wouldst thou have the diamonds, oh, Pando 
Kolo?” 

“ What’s that ! ” cried Kolo in excitement. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 69 

“ Whose voice do I hear ? ” and he tossed uneasily 
on the couch. 

“ ’Tis I, Bili, the Fire-King. I am come to 
help you.’' 

“ Will you give me the diamonds? ” 

“ Thou mayest take them. And art thou sure 
of the way? Will thy feet not mislead thee? 
The journey is rough, the dangers are many, the 
face of the country has changed, and thou mayest 
be lost amidst the burning rocks that line my 
habitation. Recite and tell me thy knowledge 
so that I may know if thou hast forgotten.” 

Don and I looked at Oliver ready to laugh, but 
we were so anxious to hear Kolo’s answer that 
we restrained ourselves. 

“ I will tell you, oh, Bili,” replied Kolo, his 
eyes opening dreamily; whereat we dropped from 
sight. Of course in his dazed condition he might 
not have noticed us; but as we did not want to 
take any chances of his discovering the ruse, we 
kept out of sight and made the light in the room, 
which was already quite dim, still dimmer. 

Pando Kolo then gave a long, detailed descrip- 
tion of the route to be taken to the cave of the 
burning mountain where the diamonds lay hid- 
den. This cleared up several points in the an- 
cient document and the map that had puzzled us 
somewhat. Oliver prompted Kolo whenever his 


70 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


memory lagged, still personating the Fire-King 
Bili. 

“ It is well. Thou hast told truthfully, but if 
thou wouldest prosper, Bili tells thee that by 
working thou shalt gain a competence. The 
diamonds are thine if thou wilt have them; Bili 
will aid thee; but it were well to give up the idea; 
danger may come when thou dost possess them.” 

Pando Kolo groaned and turned over on his 
couch. 

I must confess I felt somewhat dubious about 
the propriety of the ruse that had been resorted 
to; still, I think, it had been done in a species of 
fun and quaintness, and further we had as much 
right, if not more, to the diamonds as anyone. 

While we were talking amongst ourselves, and 
congratulating each other on the probably suc- 
cessful outcome of our trip in search of the treas- 
ure Kolo arose from the couch with a wild yell 
that nearly froze the blood in my veins. He ran 
about in a crazy manner, striking out right and 
left, and to avoid the blows he was probably aim- 
ing at imaginary enemies, we fled from the hut 
precipitately. 


CHAPTER XL 


ABDUCTION OF OLIVER. 

When we were outside we breathed freer. 
Halting by the roadside, we held a consultation. 

“ We must get back to Manila, somehow,’’ 
said Oliver. I’m tired of this locality already.” 

We agreed with him; and, after looking about 
us, we thought it best to ask the natives at the 
hut what was the best way to get back. 

Don at once started off toward the hut. I fol- 
lowed after him slowly, while Oliver remained 
on the road. I heard Don talking to the woman, 
and she was trying to tell him as well as she could, 
but as our brother seemed to find it difficult to 
understand what she was saying, I drew closer 
with the idea that I might be of use. 

I had hardly reached Don when I heard Oliver 
calling for us. His voice was high-pitched, and 
I felt that there was something wrong. 

Don and I hastened as fast as we could to 
where Oliver had been. When we got there Oli- 
ver was nowhere to be seen. There were evi- 
dences of a struggle in the road. The dirt was 


7 * 


72 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


kicked about, and there were tracks of feet criss- 
crossed and mixed up. 

Once we heard a faint cry, and immediately 
started off in its direction. The trail led away 
from the main road, through a growth of under- 
brush. This we followed until we came to a 
small rocky stream. 

On the banks of this stream grew a lot of 
tangled bushes. Some of them were broken, and 
bits of clothing hung to them. We were then 
sure that we were on the right track. 

We crossed the stream by jumping from stone 
to stone, and as it was not very wide we got over 
with but little trouble. It was now quite light, 
as day was breaking, and there was a strong 
chance that we might get a glimpse of Oliver and 
his abductors — for we felt that he must have been 
carried off. 

Once over the stream, and there was a broad 
even field to cross. Beyond was a dense growth 
of forest, consisting of palms and great tree- 
ferns. 

Rapidly crossing the field, we soon plunged 
into the forest. Here the dense undergrowth of 
tropical vegetation, and the overhanging festoons 
of vines and creepers, impeded our progress. 

Look ! look ! ” cried Don, pointing toward 
the interior of the forest. I gave vent to my sur- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


73 


prise as I gazed in the direction, for there I saw 
Bender. The rascal was distant from us about 
a hundred and fifty yards. We just caught a 
glimpse of him through an opening in the forest 
when he disappeared in the dense vegetation. 

Redoubling our efforts to get through the 
masses of vines and brush, so as to gain on Ben- 
der, we soon found all further progress in his di- 
rection impeded by a wide boggy place. Skirting 
the edge of the swamp, we had to make a con- 
siderable detour, and by this we lost much valua- 
ble time. When we emerged into the open again 
Bender was not to be seen. 

As luck would have it, we came across a good- 
natured young native who was gathering herbs 
for medicines. He stopped in his work when we 
began to question him, and answered our in- 
quiries readily and intelligently. His English 
was fair. 

He told us that there were three men in the 
party. One was young, and the others were 
older. He had spoken to them, for the younger 
one was struggling to free himself, and he had 
been informed by the thin man that the younger 
man was a deserter from a ship, and that he was 
then a prisoner. When we asked him to show 
the direction in which the party had gone, he im- 
mediately volunteered to go with us. 


74 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


We Started on a run led by the native, whose 
name we soon learned was Pakelo. Under his 
guidance we soon gained a fairly well trodden 
path. Once we espied the three as they went 
down a slight hill that ended at the edge of a 
brook. We could plainly see Oliver struggling 
to free himself. As we went along Pakelo sud- 
denly stopped, stooped down, and picked up a yel- 
low piece of parchment. It was the map that we 
had taken from Bender some time before. 

How did this get here? ’’ said Don, wrinkling 
his brows in a puzzled way. “ Oliver must have 
lost it!’^ 

Lost it ! ” I cried. “ Not at all — he has 
thrown it away on purpose; he did not want Ben- 
der to get it back again; he took the chance of 
our picking it up.” 

'' I think you are right,” replied Don, as we 
again took up the pursuit. 

I placed the parchment in my pocket, deter- 
mined that no one should get it without a desper- 
ate resistance on my part. 

Pakelo now turned sharply to the right. 
When we asked him why he replied that the road 
which the party had taken led to a deep morass, 
and that by_ going the way we were we should 
meet them, for they would have to turn back, and 
instead of taking the road that would — as they 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


75 


must think — bring them back to us, if we had 
continued to follow them — they would take this 
road, and so we should probably meet face to 
face. 

His honesty of purpose was evident in his face, 
and his native shrewdness impressed us favor- 
ably. We continued to jog along easily, as 
Pakelo said there was no need for hurry — we 
must surely meet them. 

“ If that's the case," said Don, coming to a 
halt, we might as well wait here until the game 
comes up. It’s just like a rabbit shoot; you sit 
on a stump and the game circles round." 

“ A little further on there is a good hiding- 
place," said Pakelo. 

On we went, and soon we were ensconced be- 
hind a mass of foliage that hid us well from view, 
while we could plainly see a long distance down 
the trail. 

We waited somewhat impatiently, until finally 
’Pakelo ofifered to go down the road and recon- 
noiter. This being safe, for Pakelo would be 
unsuspected of being in our service, he was urged 
to go. 

After a little wait Pakelo came back and told 
us that the three were approaching. Don was 
bent on rushing out at them at once, but when I 
suggested to him that we wait until they came 


76 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


opposite to our hiding-place he fell in at once with 
my idea. 

Peering cautiously through the tangled mass 
of vines and foliage that surrounded us, we saw 
Oliver coming along between Bender and his vil- 
lainous companion. Don began to boil with rage 
and indignation, and I had hard work to restrain 
him from breaking from cover. I will own that 
I felt just as bad as did my brother, but it seemed 
to me we could gain an advantage by holding 
back a little. 

As they came closer we saw that Oliver’s face 
was streaked with blood, and he seemed to be 
completely worn out, probably from his struggles. 
Bender’s clothes were torn and he was breathing 
with spasmodic effort. Chance made them come 
to a halt directly opposite our covert. 

“ What are you going to do with me? ” cried 
Oliver. 

“ You’ll see in a minute, young fellow,” an- 
swered Bender, as he let go of Oliver’s arm and 
walked away a few paces. 

We wondered what the rascal was up to. 
There was a bad, determined look on his face that 
was very forbidding. 

“ Now, see here, my hearty,” he began, seating 
himself on a rock by the side of the trail. You 
say you haint got the map. Well I’m going to 


OF THE PHILIPPINE::^. 


77 


give you just five minutes to produce it, or to 
draw one just like it. If you don’t, I’ll serve you 
as I did Pando Kolo.” 

Pakelo pricked up his ears when he heard the 
name of Kolo. He became intensely interested. 

“ I have not got the map, nor can I draw one 
from memory,” replied Oliver. 

I won’t stand any tomfoolery,” returned Ben- 
der, moving uneasily. “ There’s no time to be 
lost. Your life is in your own hands. Give me 
the map and I’ll let you go.” 

“You have searched me, and you know I have 
no map.” 

“ Then draw one.” 

“ I can’t.” 

Bender got up and came close to Oliver. 
There was a big club in his hand which he had 
picked up from the roadside. Oliver struggled 
to break his captor’s hold. He aimed a terrific 
blow at the man’s head. The fellow dodged, 
and Oliver tumbled to the ground, carried there 
by the force of his onslaught on the man. 

We broke from cover with a yell like Comanche 
Indians. We hurled ourselves on Bender and his 
companion. Blows flew right and left. Oliver, 
seeing us, was almost overcome with joy. It 
lent strength to his arm, and he felled Bender to 
the ground with a smashing blow between the 


78 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


eyes. The rascal’s companion tried to escape, but 
Don held him in a vise-like grip. 

The battle was over in short order. It took 
some time to bring Cal Bender to his senses, for 
he was considerably hurt in the melee. We 
bound the prisoners’ hands with strong vines that 
Pakelo cut in the forest. When the question 
came up as to what was to be done with Bender 
and his fellow, Pakelo said that if we would 
help him to take the men to the village where he 
lived, and which was but little more than a mile 
away, he would see that they were brought to 
their just deserts. 

Not knowing what such native justice might 
mean, and not being willing to turn the men over 
to what might be very savage justice, we inquired 
of Pakelo what would be done to them. Pakelo 
laughed a little and begged to remind us that all 
the people in that land were not savages. His 
sly humor at the expense of Bender and his com- 
panion amused us not a little. We were in- 
formed that they would be turned over to a Span- 
ish justice in a near-by village to answer for an 
assault on Pando Kolo. We then learned that 
Pakelo had heard of the assault early in the 
morning. 

Satisfied with his explanation, we told him to 
lead the way, and we would see that the prisoners 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 79 

were safely housed where they could do no 
further mischief. 

After a short journey we arrived at the village 
where Pakelo lived. All the denizens of the 
place turned out to watch us as we passed by, and 
Pakelo was kept busy explaining to everyone the 
meaning of our strange party. 

Bender and his fellow-villain were committed 
to await examination. Their jail was a strongly 
built stone cage with heavy iron bars. We left 
them there with no regrets. Bender shook his 
hand at us, vowing to get square some time. 


CHAPTER XIL 

A NATIVE BIRTHDAY PARTY. 

Procuring horses at the village, after a vain 
attempt to learn what had became of the ones 
that were stolen by Bender, we set out for the re- 
turn to Manila. Pakelo had given us specific di- 
rections, and we felt confident of finding the way. 

We were all quite jubilant at the outcome, and 
the pleasant prospect of very soon locating the 
treasure cave at Kiwoku. We rehearsed Pan do 
Kolo’s description of the route to be taken to the 
cave, and, comparing our personal remembrance 
of what he had said, we soon came to a distinct 
understanding of the exact location. 

Suddenly Don let out a whoop of wild exulta- 
tion and sped down the trail at breakneck speed. 
Oliver and I followed. The animals we rode 
were most excellent beasts, and their sure-footed- 
ness quite surprised us. 

Along the road we sped, laughing and shout- 
ing in high spirits. The air was exhilarating; 
and, our minds being free from present care, we 

8o 


OF THE^ PHILIPPINES, 


8i 


gave rein to our animals and abandoned ourselves 
to the enjoyment of the beautiful tropical scene. 

Don, who was still in the lead, reined in his 
horse with a loud “Whoa!” Oliver and I at 
once followed suit. Just ahead was a frail bridge 
across a dry and deep gully. Beyond it the road 
turned to the left with a quick bend. As we were 
crossing the bridge in single file we heard sounds, 
beyond the bend, in the forest. 

Standing up in our stirrups, so as to get a bet- 
ter view, we espied a native house in close prox- 
imity to the road. Coming closer we saw a num- 
ber of people gathered there, and they appeared 
to be in the best of humor, laughing and talking 
in gay animation. 

Halting our horses so that we might see what 
was going on, we were observed by the picnickers, 
who were celebrating the birthday of one of their 
number. They beckoned to us to come over. 

“ What can they want of us? ” I observed to 
Don, who was nearest to me. 

“ I don’t know. I’m sure,” he replied, as he 
urged his horse toward the gathering, “ but I’m 
going to find out.” 

Oliver and I followed Don’s lead, and we were 
soon in the midst of the merrymakers. 

I inspected the native house^ and found that it 
was ingeniously put together. Bamboo consti- 


82 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


tuted the framework of the structure, and I found 
that it was bound together with strong rope, 
made of palm-fiber. The roof was thatched with 
grass, and the sides were covered with the same 
material. The corners were braided in with 
ferns. These ferns turn quite dark and make a 
striking contrast to the light color of the grasses 
forming the roof and sides. 

The interior of this grass house presented an 
attractive appearance to me. Weapons and tools 
hung on the walls. Big calabashes of highly pol- 
ished wood were there. The nets and mats, 
strongly woven of grass and palm-fiber, showed 
much skill in their manufacture. The handles of 
some of the weapons were inlaid with bone and 
shell. The most striking thing in the house, 
which consisted of but one room divided by 
screens, was an enormous bed consisting of a 
heap of soft mats covered by little pillows of 
woven palm-leaves. 

In the rear of the grass house, but attached to 
it, was an extension. This extension was only as 
high as where the peak began on the main part. 
It had a thatched roof, but the sides were open 
excepting about three feet from the ground. 
This space was covered with braided grasses and 
presented a pretty appearance. 

We found the people here, who seemed to be of 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


83 


the better class of Tagals, exceedingly kind and 
gracious. They were gentle, but still full of fun. 
I learned that they are exceedingly fond of a joke 
and a good time. 

While here I had an interesting conversation 
with one of the men. He told me legends of the 
ancient Filipinos that proved to me they were men 
of vivid imagination, and yet of a practical turn 
of mind. 

The women and children at the picnic were all 
decorated with garlands of flowers, and in some 
cases of the ends of peacock feathers and deli- 
cately tinted shells. There was a large mat 
spread out beside the grass house, and on this 
were squatted a number of females. We soon 
learned that this was a special birthday celebra- 
tion and that they were going to have a feast. 

What struck me as being very beautiful, yet 
somewhat mournful, was the singing by a num- 
ber of the native men in chorus. Once they sang 
a song that began sweet and low, and as it pro- 
ceeded it rose louder and louder until it ended in 
a shout that sounded like a battle-cry. 

In some respects this feast put me in mind of 
a clam-bake that I once attended at home, but 
here the surroundings were entirely different and 
much more poetic. 

As we were not in any particular hurry to get 


84 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


back to Manila, we tarried for some time with 
the picnic party, and I must say that when we did 
leave them it was with considerable reluctance. 

A party of young women decorated us with 
flowers, just before we mounted our horses, and 
many were the “ good lucks ’’ that sounded after 
us as we cantered away. 

The ears of that picnic party must have burned 
frightfully after we left, for many were the 
praises that we sounded for them. 

“ I never knew a finer-natured people in all my 
life ! ” cried Don. 

“ They are just all right,” sung out Oliver, pat- 
ting his horse, which was dancing along the trail 
in a merry humor. 

As for myself I could not say too much in their 
favor if I tried. 

Talking in this strain, and looking at the gor- 
geous beauty of the tropical vegetation all around 
us, the time passed quickly. 

Night overtook us before we reached even the 
vicinity of the Laguna de Bay, and as the path 
was unknown to us we had to proceed more cau- 
tiously. The way grew quite dark, and we be- 
gan to fear that we had missed the proper trail. 

There was not a habitation in sight, but at last 
we came upon a clear space. There were but 
few trees about, only the dense undergrowth. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


85 


Above, the sky was beautifully clear and studded 
with myriads of stars. Across the clearing we 
saw a line of low buildings stretched out against 
the black denseness of the forest beyond. 

We made our way toward these buildings and 
soon arrived at a pleasant-looking dooryard in 
front of a small and neatly built house. Swing- 
ing under the trees in the yard was a fanciful 
hammock and in it was a man apparently asleep. 

Halting our horses at the paling that separated 
the yard from the road we saw the man move 
uneasily. 

“ Good-evening, sir,^' shouted Don, raising 
himself from the saddle. 

The man rubbed his eyes sleepily, and raising 
his head peeped at us above the edge of the ham- 
mock. 

Don asked the man if he would kindly tell us 
how far we were from Manila. Slowly getting 
out of the hammock, the man approached us. 
When he came up to us he placed his hands on 
the paling and stared hard at us. 

We began to think that the man was intoxi- 
cated, but in this we were mistaken — he was 
simply not yet fully awake. 

“ Why, yes; certainly I can tell you,” he be- 
gan after a preparatory hem or two. 

“ How far is it ? ” queried Oliver. 


86 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


“ About four miles and a half.” 

Well, my heart gave a little leap of joy at this, 
for I was tired out and anxious to get to bed. 

“ What’s the road that we take ? ” inquired 
Don. 

“ Straight ahead — that way,” returned the 
man, waving his hand in the direction we should 
go; “ but,” he continued, if you have no objec- 
tion I can offer you entertainment right here. 
You can stay for the balance of the night or 
longer, just as you wish.” 

We consulted amongst ourselves, and as the 
place looked inviting and there was a chance that 
the hotel at Manila would be closed should we go 
there, we decided to accept the offer. 

Dismounting, we were told to take our horses 
to the rear, where an attendant would care for 
them. A shrill whistle by the man brought a 
native youth on the run, who took charge of our 
animals. We entered the house, where, before 
we left, we met with a curious adventure. 


CHAPTER XIIL 


A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 

We were seated in the dining room of the 
house, partaking of some refreshment which had 
been placed before us. Our host sat in a large 
easy chair, and was entertaining us with an ac- 
count of how he had come to live on the island. 

He was an American from Chicago, and rattled 
away at a great rate. His talk was interesting, 
but, as I was tired, I found myself wishing that 
he would stop and show us to our room. 

“ Great Scott ! ” I cried out, so suddenly that 
both Don and Oliver leaped from their chairs, 
while our host stared at me in blank amazement. 

“ What’s up? ” snapped Don. 

“ Are you ill ? ” inquired Oliver, coming to my 
side. 

“ Indeed I’m not,” I replied, running to a door 
near a window that opened on a veranda. 

The door was locked, but the key was in it, and 
I quickly turned it. Flinging open the door, I 
rushed out into the night. 

87 


88 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Don, Oliver, and our host quickly followed 
me, asking what was the matter. 

Cal Bender ! ” I gasped. 

“ Cal Bender ! ” said Don in a puzzled way. 
“ what do you mean ? '' 

“ I just saw him.” 

You must be dreaming, Frank.” 

“ Indeed I’m not,” I answered indignantly; 

he was peering through the window at us.” 

Don gave a low, long whistle of surprise. 

“Sure you are not mistaken, Frank?” in- 
quired Oliver. 

“ Perfectly,” I answered. 

We explained the situation, partly, to our host, 
and he at once ordered out a half-dozen of his 
men to search the place thoroughly. 

The search proved futile, and we retired to the 
house. Then, after discussing the matter for a 
while, we were shown to our room. In it were 
two beds — one double and the other single. I 
lay down alone and my brothers occupied the 
double bed. 

Although I was thoroughly tired, yet I could 
not sleep. My mind was busy with all our recent 
adventures. Once I got up and walked around 
the room. Don and Oliver were sleeping 
soundly. Again I lay down and tried to get 
a sleep, but my efforts were useless. I heard a 



OF THE PHILIPPINES. 89 

clock in a neighboring room sound the hour of 
two. 

I began to wonder how Bender had escaped 
from the jail at the little village, when I heard a 
sound at the window that caused me to look to- 
ward it. At first I thought it might be the wind 
that stirred the lattice. I strained my ears to 
hear better. 

Someone was trying to get into the room, I 
felt certain. At first I thought of calling out, 
but as I wished to see who it might be — ^perhaps 
Bender — I lay perfectly still. The window was 
up, but the blinds were closed with some kind of 
a fastening. This fastening the would-be in- 
truder was trying to force. 

Oliver moved uneasily in his sleep, and the bed 
creaked so much that I was afraid that the person 
at the blind might hear the sound and leave. 
Now, I do not pretend to extraordinary bravery, 
but in this case I believed that the attempt to get 
into our room had something to do with Cal Ben- 
der, and I did not want the quarry to take alarm. 

All at once the blinds flew open, and there was 
a crashing sound at the window. I sprang from 
my bed, revolver in hand. My brothers were in- 
stantly wide awake, inquiring what the trouble 
was. I hastened to the window and looked out. 
On the ground lay a broken ladder and close to 



90 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


the house was a clump of bushes torn and broken 
down, probably caused by the fall. 

As I turned away from the window Don came 
up, and also Oliver. They plied me with queries 
as to the meaning of it all. Of course I was as 
much in the dark as they were. 

“ Let’s go down and search,” I cried, starting 
for the door. 

“ There is someone hurt,” ejaculated Don, 
bending out of the window and looking down. 

“ I heard a groan just now.” 

As I opened the door I was met by our host. 

- .e was very voluble in his inquiries. He had 
Heard the noise, and wanted to know if we had 
been robbed, if we were hurt. He vowed ven- 
geance on the disturber of his household, and he 
was in a state of great excitement. 

Down the stairs he went, yelling for this one . 
and shouting for that one. The whole house was 
soon in an uproar. 

Don, Oliver, and I followed him, two steps at 
a time. We burst out of the house and ran 
around to where the ladder lay. 

On the ground we discovered a young man 
with a broken leg. He begged us not to hurt 
him. We took hold of him, and he screamed 
with pain. Our host came upon the scene with a 
number of his men. He recognized the young 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 91 

fellow as a hanger-on about the place, and who 
was somewhat simple-minded. 

“ So you’ve turned burglar, have you, you 
good-for-nothing whelp ? ” cried our host, look- 
ing at the fellow savagely. 

“ No, boss, I didn’t.” 

“ What were you trying to do, then, climbing 
up a ladder placed at the window ? ” 

The fellow gave a groan of pain. 

I suggested that he be taken in the house and 
his hurt attended to. 

“ Take him to the barn, that’s good enough 
for the likes of him, the scoundrel,” said our host, 
turning to his men. 

To the barn the fellow was carried, groaning 
with pain. There he was placed on a pile of 
horse-blankets spread out on a heap of hay. One 
of the men, who seemed to understand something 
of surgery, made an examination and pronounced 
it a simple fracture; then one of the hands was 
dispatched for a doctor who lived but a short dis- 
tance away. 

When most of the people were gone, leaving 
only Don, Oliver, myself, and our host, besides a 
young fellow who was to attend the injured one, 
we learned, after much questioning, that the 
simple-minded youth had been acting as the agent 
of others. From his description, we were certain 


92 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


that they were no other than Bender and his 
pal. 

It seems that they had persuaded Peter, which 
was the name of the fellow, to attempt to get into 
our room and see if he could find a certain paper 
that was in our possession — this, of course was 
the map. 

Peter had been convinced by them, through 
argument and the promise of tobacco, of which, 
our host said he was very fond, that we had stolen 
this paper from them, and that it was no more 
than just that they should get the paper back. 

Don questioned Peter closely, and we found 
out that he was to meet them that morning at an 
appointed place. This rendezvous was in a 
small patch of woods that skirted the road about 
a half-mile from the house. 

“ There will be someone there to meet them,” 
said Don grimly, turning to us. 

“ Yes, indeed ! ” cried Oliver, slapping his knee. 

Our host described the place more particularly 
to us and told us that he would go with us, fetch- 
ing along a couple of his men. Pll send the men 
on ahead,” he said. They won’t be suspected, 
and we will get there in a roundabout way.” 

We thought no more of going back to bed, but 
we went into the house and ate a hasty breakfast. 
With this finished we started off on our quest. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


93 


From the rear of the house we took a path that 
led us through a grove. Then we emerged into 
a short strip of meadow which ended abruptly in 
a deep ravine, its sides covered with bushes and 
other vegetation. At the bottom of the ravine, 
which appeared to be a dried-up watercourse, the 
walking was pretty fair, and we had little diffi- 
culty in making good progress. 

Our host informed us that the rendezvous was 
but a quarter of a mile away from where we were. 
We walked along cautiously, keeping a sharp 
lookout for Bender. It wanted then but fifteen 
minutes to the time set for the meeting. 

Just ahead was a place where the high banks of 
the ravine ended on a level with the bottom, form- 
ing a small cross-valley. In this cross-valley was 
a clump of trees, and as we went along I saw a 
face peering out at us from behind one of the 
trees. It was the face of Cal Bender, and he 
quickly dodged back, but not too quick for me 
to get a good look and be sure of my man. 

“ There he is ! ” I cried in excitement, and 
pointing with my finger in the direction of the 
trees. Don looked and ran that way, his pistol 
in his hand. 

We all pressed on toward the clump of trees. 
Bender and his chum fairly flew from their con- 
cealment, and ran away with great speed. 


94 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Stop ! ’’ yelled Don at the top of his voice, 
“ or ril fire!^’ 

“ Fire and be blowed ! ” returned Cal Bender, 
increasing his speed. 

“ Fire your pistol, it will put my men on 
guard ! ” cried our host. 

The idea being a good one, the three of us 
blazed away. The noise we made sounded like a 
miniature battle. 

On we went in the chase. Over sticks, and 
through tangled masses of vines and creepers, we 
pushed our way. Bender and his chum led us a 
lively race. 

For a moment we lost sight of them as they 
disappeared in a gully. Then they reappeared, 
as they tore up the opposite bank. 

“ I feel like firing at them, Frank,” said Don to 
me, his face aglow with excitement. 

‘‘ No, no, don’t do that, Don ! ” I cried in 
alarm, for just then my brother looked as though 
he meant it. 

Bender and his companion kept up the pace, 
and when we had crossed the gully they were no- 
where to be seen. 

We threshed around in the undergrowth for a 
little while, thinking they were concealed, but we 
failed to discover them. 


OP THE PHILIPPINES. 


95 


Then we leaped a fence and soon emerged on a 
path that ran along the edge of the woods. A 
short distance away we saw a sight that caused us 
to hurry on at top speed. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


A FRESH START. 

There was a scrimmage on the trail. A half- 
dozen men were whirling around in a confused 
mass. There were shouts and cries, and dust 
was flying in the air. 

When we came close to the party, Bender and 
his pal were in the charge of our host’s men. 
But strangest of all, there were Pakelo and Pando 
Kolo! 

How they had gotten there just in the nick of 
time, for we learned that Bender and his fellow 
had made desperate resistance, was explained by 
Pakelo. 

When it was discovered that the two had 
broken out of jail at the village, Pakelo had im- 
mediately started in pursuit, and on the way he 
had fallen in with Kolo, who, though still some- 
what dazed from the blow he had received at the 
hands of Bender, when he found that Pakelo was 
in search of the man at once determined to go 
with him and wreak vengeance on the scoundrel 
who had tried to kill him. 


96 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


97 


Bender and his pal were marched to the barn 
of our host. There they were securely bound 
and, after identification by Peter, the simpleton, 
placed in a conveyance and hurried off to jail. 
As they were being driven away Bender scowled 
at us blackly. This affected us but little, for we 
felt sure, now, there would be no escape for him. 
Pando Kolo went off with Pakelo, for we had 
come to the conclusion that we should not need 
his services in locating the treasure cave; and, as 
he did not recognize us, we did not enlighten him 
as to our identity nor our purpose. 

In a little while we were on the road to Manila 
once more, with our hearts lighter than they had 
been for several hours. 

Oliver and Don rode in advance and set off on 
such a gallop that soon they passed out of sight 
around a bend in the road. 

This had scarcely happened when my horse be- 
gan to walk in a lame fashion. Thinking he 
might have something in his hoof I dismounted 
and examined the member, and discovered that 
he had picked up a thin, sharp stone, which was 
evidently very painful to him. 

I could not pull out the stone with my fingers, 
and so had to use my knife. 

In using the blade I made a slip and as the 
stone came out, the horse shied, threw me on my 


98 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


back and made off at top speed down a side 
trail. 

“Whoa!’^ I yelled. ^‘Whoa!” And as he 
did not stop, I set off after him on foot. I yelled 
to my brothers, but I was doubtful if they would 
hear me. 

On went the horse up a rocky trail and along a 
fringe of tropical bushes. At last he began to 
slow up, and I made an extra dash for him. I 
had just gained his side when something hap- 
pened that horrified me beyond measure. 

The trail led to an old-fashioned Tagal well — 
a circular, stony basin at least twelve feet across 
and twelve to fifteen feet deep. Down plunged 
my steed into this opening and I after him. The 
horse landed in a heap at the bottom and I came 
down on top of him. 

Fortunately I was not hurt, having the horse 
for a cushion. As soon as I could I scrambled to 
my feet, and then the horse got up, little the worse 
for the fall. 

I found the well perfectly dry, excepting in one 
corner, where the recent rain had formed a small 
pool. Here there was a crack through which the 
water slowly trickled away into the earth. 

How to get out of the hole was a serious ques- 
tion. I could not reach the top of the well even 
by standing on my horse’s back, nor could I leap 




• ' I 

. 


t 


f 


] 






•* 









t 







A 


I 





i 







CUNGTNG TO THE DAMP STONES WAS NO EASY MATTER.— 99. 


■ s 

Cl 




rf 


^ :r- • 




OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


99 


up. I tried this once, and came near to breaking 
my neck in the attempt. Then I yelled as loudly 
as I could, but no one came to my assistance. 

At last I flung off my boots and my coat and 
tried to climb the wall. This was a ticklish job, 
for clinging to the damp stones was no easy mat- 
ter. But I persevered, and at last drew myself 
to the upper ground. I was so exhausted that 
for several minutes I had to lie still, trying to get 
back my breath. 

“Frank! Frank! where are you?” came in 
Don’s voice. 

“ Here I am ! ” I gasped, and the next moment 
my brothers were at my side. 

I explained what had taken place, and after I 
felt better we set about rescuing my horse and 
getting back my coat, hat, and boots. 

At first it looked as if we would not be able to 
do much for the animal, but presently several 
natives hove into appearance, and for a small re- 
ward they procured strong ropes and some plank- 
ing, and soon my steed was restored to me. 

Nightfall found us back at Manila and so 
fagged out that we could scarcely stand when we 
dismounted. Nevertheless, we procured supper 
before retiring. We slept “ like tops,” as Don 
said, and it was not until noon of the next day 
that any of us thought of arising. 


100 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ I wonder what Mr. Narcross thinks about 
us? ” said Oliver, while we were dressing. 

“ Perhaps he thinks we are dead,” I answered. 

“ I don’t care what he thinks,” put in Don, “ so 
long as he leaves us alone.” 

We were soon outside, and made our way by 
stage to where the inhabitants of Manila have 
something of a bathing resort. 

“ Let’s have a bath ! ” cried Don; and, all being 
willing, we were soon sporting in the limpid 
waters of Manila Bay, along with many other 
natives and foreigners. 

“ If I’m not mistaken,” said Oliver, after blow- 
ing the water out of his mouth, for a large wave 
had nearly swamped him — he had been gazing at 
the beach so intently for a minute or so — “ there 
is Pando Kolo.” 

I looked in the direction Oliver pointed out, 
and there sure enough was the fellow. 

Don came near us, and we called his attention 
to the fact. 

“ Wonder what he wants? ” said he. 

Don’t know, but I think he’s up to some- 
thing,” I replied. See, he’s watching every- 
body.” 

Maybe he’s onto us,” put in Oliver. 

‘‘ What do you mean ? ” I asked as a suspicion 
began to form in my mind as to Kolo’s intention. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


loi 


Let’s go ashore,” returned Oliver for answer. 

Dripping with brine we walked up the beach 
to our bath-house. Pando Kolo was skulking in 
the neighborhood, and when we came out he fol- 
lowed us along a walk that led to a small open 
summer-house. 

We sent an order for refreshments and took 
our places at a round-table in the building. We 
had hardly seated ourselves when Kolo stepped 
in. 

We looked at the fellow in an inquiring way, 
and he saluted us with a wave of his hand and 
there was a faint familiar grin on his face. 

“You know me, boss? ” he began, addressing 
himself to Don. 

“ Yes, you took the two men to jail,” said Don. 

“ Yes,” answered the Tagal. “ Others ought 
to be there, too.” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

Kolo hesitated. He looked around, and was 
at a loss how to begin. He moved uneasily from 
one foot to the other. Then he began. 

“ You know I’m Diamond King? ” 

“ No ! are you ? ” answered Don in on off-hand 
way. “ Why, I’m glad to meet you. Sit down 
and have some refreshment with us,” at the same 
time pushing out a chair for him. 

Tagals are always responsive to hospitality, 


102 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


and this action on the part of Don softened Kolo 
wonderfully. 

Tell us all about it, my friend,” said my 
brother, cocking up his legs on another chair. 

“ Well, you see, it’s this way,” began Pando 
Kolo. I know where there is a place that holds 
a big fortune.” There was a cunning look in his 
eyes as he stopped in expectancy. 

'' Well, that’s a nice thing to know,” put 
in Oliver. 

'' Yes, very nice,” laughed Kolo. 

'' Is it far from here? ” I inquired. 

“ Yes, far. Over the water.” 

“ On some other island ? ” said Don, looking 
squarely at the Kana or Tagal. 

Kolo remained silent, but his eyes were elo- 
quent. 

'' Why don’t you get it? ” I questioned. 

That’s a long story.” 

'' Haven’t you got the money to get there ? ” 

. “ I get there all right.” 

“Won’t you let us in on the ground floor?” 
began Don, as he winked at me. 

“ Mebbe you know all about it already.” 

“ How should we know ? ” 

“ Prisoner man say so.” 

“ The prisoner says so ! ”. 

“ Yes, say you have map.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 103 

We’ve got a map? ” 

*^So he say.” 

How did he know ? ” 

“ He say you stole map from him.” 

The refreshments came in just then, and we 
all fell to, including Kolo. 

“ Now, see here, Kolo,” began Don, pointing 
his finger at the native, “ how much do you want 
for this secret that you claim to possess? Name 
your terms.” 

“ You want to buy me off ? ” 

“ Oh, no! ” replied Don very calmly, and smil- 
ing all the time. 

‘‘ Then what you want to do? ” 

“ Name your price for telling us the secret.” 

“ You very foolish to buy secret from me when 
you know it already,” said Kolo with a knowing 
look. 

'' You have nothing but the word of the pris- 
oner for that.” 

“ Oh, yes, more too ! ” 

How so?” 

Peter, who broke his leg tryin’ to git it.” 
There was a triumphant gleam in his eyes when 
he said this. “ He tell me what tall man want 
to get, and tall man tell me something. He want 
to get map. Kolo want to get map too.” 

“ What for? You must know where the place 


104 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


is that you are talking about. What do you 
want of a map ? ” 

Kolo was silent, and soon showed signs of 
anger. Then he got up to leave. Turning to 
us he raised his finger warningly, and said: 
“ Better not go there.” 

“ Go where? ” 

“ You know. Better not go. Get killed 
sure.” 

Sit down, Kolo. Maybe we can make some 
arrangement with you. Do you know that there 
is a treasure hidden somewhere on these islands? 
If you do, what do you want to take us in? ” 

“ I want you to keep away. You will surely 
get killed if you try to discover the secret.” 

Why?” 

Very bad place, and besides the treasure be- 
long to me, Pando Kolo, the Diamond King.” 
He raised himself to his full height, and threw 
out his chest with every appearance of pride. 

“ How did you find it out ? but pshaw ! you are 
only fooling us,” and Don put on a look of dis- 
gust. 

'' No fooling — it’s true. A relative told me.” 

“ Then why didn’t you get it before ? ” 

“ There are many dangers. I tell you again, 
you will get killed.” 

'' Well, you will insist that we know all about 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


105 

it, and yet when we ask you to take us into your 
secret for a consideration you refuse.” 

Pando Kolo was silent. He seemed to have 
something on his mind that he wanted to tell, but 
was either ashamed or afraid to do so. 

I thought at the time that it was probably some 
superstitious notion that made him hang back, 
and so I made a bold push to clear up the matter. 

‘'Are you afraid of Bili, the Fire-King?” I 
said. 

Pando Kolo appeared startled, and looked 
about him. A short podgy Kana came by just 
then, and Kolo’s face turned ashy-white when he 
beheld him. Without another word he fled from 
the summer-house. 

We looked after him in amazement, and Don 
gave a low, long whistle. 

“ I wonder who that man was ? ” I said to Oli- 
ver, who had stepped outside. 

“ Funny-looking fellow, anyway,” replied my 
eldest brother. 

Just then a gentleman passed us, and I inquired 
of him if he could tell me who the short, podgy 
man was. 

“ He is a Kahu,” was the answer. 

“ What’s a Kahu?” 

“ A priest of the ancient religion of the Kana.” 

“ Heathen, eh ? ” 


io6 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

“ Yes.’’ 

In the course of my conversation with this gen- 
tleman I learned many interesting things about 
the ancient people of the Philippine Islands. 

It seems that while the educated people are 
Christians, yet amongst the lower classes there 
is still a certain amount of superstitious fear of 
the old gods kept alive by the heathen priests. 

Pando Kolo was probably under this man’s 
thumb, and, thinking it would be a good scheme 
to make his acquaintance, I made it a point to 
keep him in sight while I informed Don and Oli- 
ver of my project. 

Go ahead, Frank,” said Don. ‘‘ Your idea is 
a good one. We’ll saunter around here while 
you make the old fellow’s acquaintance.” 

Leaving my two brothers I walked slowly 
after the Kahu. He halted a short distance from 
me and stood still, apparently engaged in thought. 

Going up to him, I bowed. He looked up and 
returned my salutation. 

“ Pardon me,” I began, ‘‘ but I should like to 
ask you a few questions, and perhaps you can do 
me a service for which I shall reward you well.” 

The Kahu looked at me for fully a minute be- 
fore he deigned to answer me. His eyes seemed 
to search me through and through, and I must 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


107 

confess I felt uncomfortable; but as I had an ob- 
ject in view, I did not flinch. 

Come with me/' he said at last, walking 
away. 

I went with him, and we passed along the street 
until we come to a story-and-a-half house. Here 
we went in. 


CHAPTER XV. 


WITH THE KAHU. 

The Kahu invited me to take a seat and 
begged me to excuse him for a few minutes. He 
then disappeared in the rear of the house, leaving 
me in a room which faced the street. 

Looking out on the street, I saw Pando Kolo 
pass by and look over at the house. 

“ Well,” I thought, '' what is Kolo up to 
now ? ” 

A little way beyond the house the so-called 
Diamond King paused and looked around, then 
he crossed the street diagonally and was thus out 
of my view. 

In a little while the Kahu came into the door- 
way of the room where I was, and asked me to 
come into the next room, remarking that it was 
much pleasanter in there. 

I arose, went in, and we were soon seated on 
either side of a long extension table. 

“ Now,” said he, “ please state what you wish 
of me.” 

“ Do you know a fellow named Pando Kolo ? ” 
I began. 

zo8 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


109 


Yes/' was the reply in an easy tone. 

“Is he demented? " 

“ Why do you ask ? ” 

“ I am informed that he imagines himself to 
be what he calls the Diamond King. Do you 
know anything about that? ” 

“ He has such a notion, and if what he says is 
true I believe he can well imagine he is a Dia- 
mond King.” 

“ Have you any influence with him ? ” 

“ In what way? ” 

“ Well, can you control his actions? ” 

“ Perhaps.” 

“ Will you aid me ? ” I went on. 

“ In any fair and reasonable way. But it is 
rather strange that you put these questions to me. 
If you will explain yourself more fully, perhaps 
I can be of service to you.” 

Now I did not, of course, know how much of 
Pando Kolo's secret was in possession of the 
Kahu ; I had merely surmised that he knew some- 
thing about it, and I did not want the Kahu to be 
made aware of my own knowledge. I simply 
wanted to get the Kahu to exert his influence on 
the fellow, so that, through superstitious fear, he 
would keep away from the treasure cave. Of 
course, I felt certain that Kolo had kept away 
from the place where the diamonds were secreted 


no 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


through his fear of the ancient gods; but now, 
when he was aware that others also knew the 
secret, he probably had determined to run the risk 
involved. 

I wanted to enlist the Kahu’s services in our 
behalf, and feeling that the man was purchasable 
I determined to offer him a sum of money to dis- 
suade Kolo from going to the burning mountain. 
With this in view I drew my pocketbook and 
took from it a ten-dollar gold-piece and placed it 
on the table before the Kahu. 

“ What is this for? ” he asked, picking up the 
coin and placing it in his vest pocket. 

“ For yourself,” I replied. You will do me 
a service, I know.” 

“ Explain it.” 

“ Persuade Kolo that he must not go to the 
burning mountain of Kiwoku.” 

“ Why?” 

“ For his own good.” 

“ And your benefit,” put in the Kahu with a 
sly look and a slight grin. 

“ You may think as you please. We leave 
Manila to-morrow. Keep Kolo here, and you 
shall receive a further compensation.” 

“ How shall you arrange that? ” 

“ I shall leave a sum of money with the clerk 
at the Queen Hotel with instructions to hand it 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


Ill 


over to you twelve hours after we leave, provided 
that you appear there to claim the money with 
Pando Kolo in your company.” 

“ That seems fair, and I shall prevent him from 
going.” 

“ Of course, you understand I do not wish him 
any harm, simply prevent him from going. I 
cannot explain to you my reasons for this, but I 
shall make it worth your while.” 

Then we came to an agreement as to the 
amount that the Kahu was to receive from me, 
and it was also arranged that he should be 
present when the money was deposited at the 
hotel office, so that the clerk could identify him 
and also so that he, the Kahu, might be sure of 
my good faith. 

I arose, and was about to go, when, just as the 
Kahu was about to say something further, there 
was a call for him at the rear of the house. Re- 
questing me to be seated again, until he should 
return, he left the room. 

Without intending to be an eavesdropper, I 
heard the voice of Pando Kolo as he came into 
the house and was ushered into a room near where 
I was. 

“ Kolo, why are you here ? ” I heard the Kahu 
ask. 

I could not see into the room where they were, 


112 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


but from the sounds that reached me I judged 
that Kolo stood in great awe of the Kahu. 

“ I am come, great priest,’' said the native with 
trembling in his voice, “ to ask your help.” 

“ How so? ” 

I have enemies who would rob me, and I wish 
to make them weak. Prevent then in their plans, 
and I shall make you many presents of great 
value. You know I am called the Diamond King 
— there is a reason for it. I am not of weak 
mind. I stand in fear only of our ancient gods. 
Many years have I held the secret, and but a‘ short 
time ago Bili removed the ban. He came to me 
when I was hurt and graciously gave me permis- 
sion to remove the treasure.” 

I recalled then how Oliver had personated the 
god at the hut where Kolo lay in a stupor. 

Continuing, Kolo said: “ Your power is great, 
oh, priest of our ancient worship ; help me against 
fhe foreigners; cause them to be held back.” 

‘Miow many are there of your enemies?” in- 
quired the Kahu; and I knew by the sound of his 
voice that he was surprised, probably thinking 
that I was alone. 

There are three young men who have dis- 
covered the secret through a map left by others, 
who hid the treasure.” 

Is this map in their possession ? ” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 113 

“ It is/’ 

“ How do you know it? ” 

“ In many ways. It is a long story. It would 
take long to tell it. Promise your help, and I 
shall pour treasure at your feet.” 

“You must procure something personal from 
them before I can help you, Kolo; a lock of hair, 
a tooth, a nail paring, some such thing.” (I 
have since learned that these are used in working 
the sorcery of the Kanas.) 

“ I shall get them if you will promise to help 
me.” 

“ I cannot promise you yet; I must consult the 
ancient gods: I must commune with them; I 
doubt if they will allow you to proceed.” 

“ Say not so. I have told you that Bill has 
given me permission.” 

“You may have been mistaken. I shall see.” 

“ Will you help me if the gods permit ? ” 

“ I will.” 

I heard someone rush out of the room. Then 
I heard the voice of the Kahu shouting : “ This 
way! this way!” while there was the sound of 
hurrying feet in the hall. 

Almost in an instant Pando Kolo stopped oppo- 
site the door of the room in which I sat. I tried 
to conceal myself, but it was too late. Kolo saw 
me. A look of blank amazement came over his 


114 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


face and then he ran into the room. He tried to 
seize me, but I dodged and escaped him. His 
face was working with passion, and he looked like 
a very demon. He ran around the table with 
arms outstretched. 1 moved quickly away, and 
shouted at him : ‘‘ Are you crazy? What do you 
mean ? ’’ So great was his rage, he was at a loss 
for words. 

By this time the Kahu -had come into the room. 
He fixed his eyes on Kolo, who almost collapsed 
with fear. His eyes were riveted on the face of 
the Kahu. It seemed to me then that the old 
priest was possessed of hypnotic power, so great 
was the influence of his gaze on Kolo, who gradu- 
ally cowered and cowered, until he crouched on 
the floor in a heap at the feet of the Kahu. 

Without a word the Kahu turned on his heel 
and left the room.' Kolo arose and followed him 
like a whipped dog. 

Left alone in the room, I began to think I 
would do well to leave the house, when the Kahu 
came in. 

His manner was entirely unruffled. There 
was not the faintest trace of excitement in his 
face nor in his voice when he spake to me. 

“Be not alarmed,” he said; “leave the house 
and I shall see you at the Queen’s Hotel this even- 
ing as we have arranged.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


115 

“ How about Kolo ? I whispered. 

“ Leave him to me. I shall convince him that 
what has just happened was but a dream on his 
part.” 

I was about to say more when the Kahu held 
up a warning finger, and then gently taking me 
by the arm he led me to the front door. 

Opening the door, he smiled pleasantly and 
bowed. I passed out and the door was softly 
closed. About a hundred feet down the street on' 
the opposite side I saw Don and Oliver. As I 
was coming up to them Don sung out cheerily: 
“Well, how did you make out?” while Oliver 
said: “ I thought you were killed, you stayed so 
long.” 

I told the story to my brothers and they were 
full of wonder and amazement. 

“ That Kahu is a bird,” remarked Oliver. 

“ Do you think he will do as he says ? ” inquired 
Don. 

“ I believe he will. There was something 
about him that gave me confidence in him,” I re- 
plied. 

“ What makes you think so, Frank? ” queried 
Oliver, who seemed to have his doubts about the 
old priest. 

“ Well,” I replied, “ for one thing he has got 
my money, and he thinks there is more to follow, 


ii6 


FORTUNE NUN TER S 


while Kolo he knows is a good deal of a maunder- 
ing fool. The Kahu will surely be at the hotel 
to-night.” 

“ I guess that’s right,” remarked Don. 

Then we rode back to Manila, and after a good 
supper we waited for our visitor. 

Promptly on time the Kahu came, and with him 
was Kolo. At first I was startled, and so were 
Oliver and Don, to see the native there, but I was 
assured by the Kahu that the Diamond King did 
not recognize us — in fact, could not, because he 
was under some occult influence. He had been 
brought along by the Kahu so that the hotel clerk 
might be sure of the man — the Kahu being un- 
aware whether or not the hotel clerk knew the 
so-styled king. 

As far as necessary we explained things to the 
hotel clerk, who at first did not understand what 
we were driving at; but we told him to simply de- 
liver a package which we handed to him, — and 
whose contents the Kahu had seen, — to the Kahu 
at a certain hour on the next day when he would 
come for it. He was, of course, not to deliver it 
unless the Kahu was accompanied by Kolo. 

The matter being at last understood, the Kahu 
and Kolo departed. Not once, in all the time 
that he was at the hotel, did Kolo show that he 
knew us. He seemed to be in a kind of dazed 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. H? 

State that looked somewhat like drunkenness, but 
he did not stagger and not once did I hear him 
speak. 

We retired for the night, and the next morning 
we were up bright and early. We took a stroll 
around the town and then returned to the hotel. 
Our baggage was all packed, and we had this 
taken down to the dock, where lay the inter-island 
steamer Palawan, which was to take us to the 
town of Rumida, on the southeast coast of Luzon, 
Rumida being some fifty miles from the burning 
mountain which we were so eager to visit. 


CHAPTER XVL 


OFF FOR THE BURNING MOUNTAIN. 

“ Off at last ! ’’ cried Oliver, as we slipped 
down the bay of Manila. It was a perfect day, 
and all of us felt in the best of spirits. 

''Yes, off at last,” came from. Don. "And 
may we find the Diamond Treasure without 
further trouble ! ” 

" I hope the Kahu keeps his word,” I said. " I 
want no more to do with eithjer Pando Kolo or 
Cal Bender.” 

There is no necessity to describe the run out of 
Manila Bay and down the coast and past Mindoro 
and Masbate. We were out of sight of land most 
of the time, and nothing of interest occurred dur- 
ing the trip. A night was spent on the Palawan, 
and at sunrise we sighted Rumida and two hours 
later ran into the harbor and dropped anchor. 

Rumida is well called the Beautiful. Its beach 
of dark sand lies in a crescent enfolding the bay. 
When we had landed, the beauty of the place al- 
most entranced us — it seemed like some fairy- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 119 

land. Beside almost every road there are bub- 
bling brooks that dash along merrily. Their 
banks are covered with flowers and ferns of 
exquisite colors. Vegetation here was exuber- 
ant. Tall banana trees were in many dooryards 
and clustered around were roses and lilies. 

“ Alfredo Boez ! ” cried Don in a subdued 
voice, nudging me in the side. 

“ Where?” 

“ Just ahead. See, he is turning the corner.” 

“ True enough ! ” 

“ I wonder what he is doing here? ” put in Oli- 
ver as we came to a halt. 

“ You may depend on it, for no good purpose,” 
answered Don. “ You stay here. I am going 
to follow him.” 

“ No, no ! ” I cried, laying my hand on my 
brother to detain him. It won’t do ! He may 
discover that you are following him. We’d bet- 
ter not pay any attention to his movements. Let 
him go his way and we will go ours. ' Don’t 
trouble trouble till trouble troubles you,’ I’ve al- 
ways found a good maxim to follow.” 

“ Yes, that’s so,” said Don. 

“ Besides,” put in Oliver “ we have the advan- 
tage of him now: we know he is here, but he 
doesn’t know that we are.” 

“ Let us go at once to the Rest/’ I said; this 


120 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


being the place at which we were to stay while in 
Rumida. 

We went on and turned into a street two blocks 
beyond where we had seen Alfredo Boez. As we 
went into the street whom should we see coming 
towards us but the Spaniard. 

When we passed him, as luck would have it, 
there was a man with a balky horse coming along 
the street. The horse shied at something and be- 
gan cutting capers — making a great commotion. 
Boez was quite near the animal, and sprang out 
of the way to avoid being trampled on. As he 
did so he stumbled and fell. Don sprang forward 
and dragged the Spaniard out of harm’s reach. 

By the help of Don, Oliver, and myself, Al- 
fredo Boez was soon on his feet again. He 
started to thank us, when he suddenly recognized 
us and scowled darkly. 

We looked at him silently to see what he would 
do or say. He remained silent with a hateful 
look on his features. 

Don, irritated at the fellow’s attitude, and un- 
able to contain himself, blurted out : “ Well, don’t 
you appreciate it ? ” 

I took hold of Don to lead him away, for I 
wanted to avoid a scene, when the Spaniard 
stepped close to us and shaking his finger in our 
faces said with a hissing sound : “ I would rather 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


I2I 


be dead than owe anything to an accursed Ameri- 
cano ! ” 

W e drew back in surprise, for while our experi- 
ence with Spaniards had been somewhat exten- 
sive, yet we did not dream that the man would 
not have at least a spark of gratitude in his com- 
position. 

Disgusted with the fellow, we turned to go 
away, when he called after us : “We shall meet 
again, Americanos ! ’’ 

And so we parted. 

We went to bed early that night, and I never 
slept sounder in all my life. The air at Rumida 
is very pure, although it seems damp. 

Bright and early we arose, and after break- 
fast we strolled through the town. We found 
there were quite a number of business places 
there, all well stocked with merchandise. As we 
went along we saw a sign on which were painted 
these words : “ Horses to let for tourists. Re- 
liable guides and reasonable rates.” 

We went into the livery stable office — such it 
proved to be — and inquired their rates. We 
soon came to terms, and in a little while all 
mounted, and accompanied by a guide whose 
name we made out to be Sandy, or something of 
the sort, we set out in the direction of the great 
Humbobo Falls, to view the sights and to learn 


122 


FORTUNE HUNTERS. 


something of the route to the burning moun- 
tain. 

After considerable difficulty the falls were 
reached, and dismounting we crept over the rocks 
to view the w^ter as it thundered down hundreds 
of feet into the boiling basin below. 

“ Grand, eh ! ” cried Oliver. 

It’s immense,” I replied. “ I never saw any- 
thing to equal it.” 

To get a still better place to see, Don had gone 
out on a projecting ledge of rocks, although he 
had been warned by the guide that it was a haz- 
ardous proceeding. As he stood there clearly 
outlined, two shots rang out in quick succession. 


CHAPTER XVIL 


THINGS THAT HAPPENED. 

Don tumbled over on his side and Oliver and I 
ran to his assistance. 

“Are you hurt, Don?” I queried, bending 
down over my fallen brother. 

“ I don’t know, Frank,” he answered, trying to 
rise. 

Oliver and I got him on his feet, and we no- 
ticed blood trickling down over his left cheek. A 
hasty examination revealed the fact that he had 
received a grazing shot just over the left ear. It 
was only superficial, and we soon stopped the flow 
of blood. Then we led Don away from the ledge. 

We began to wonder whether our brother had 
been shot by accident or design — thinking there 
might be ' some hunters in the neighborhood — 
when another shot rang out. It flew wide of us, 
but we hastened to seek shelter behind a near-by 
bowlder of great size. 

As we hurried on, I glanced up at the sloping 
side of the bluff that towered above the path by 
which we had come down, and there, ensconced 


124 


FORTUNE HUNTERS- 


in the undergrowth and foliage that covered the 
earth, I saw the broken outlines of a man. I 
called Oliver’s attention to it, and he declared that 
it looked like Boez. Under the shelter of the 
bowlder we debated what was to be done. I 
peeped out cautiously to see if the man was still 
in the brush. 

“ Help ! help ! murder ! ” rang out high above 
us. The voice was the voice of Sandy the guide. 

Up the path we started, Oliver, Don, and I, for 
while we tried to dissuade Don from going with 
us yet he insisted, claiming that he was not badly 
hurt. 

The cries continued as we scrambled upward. 
The way was very steep and tortuous, and we 
had much trouble in avoiding loose stones that 
threatened to trip us and send us rolling down- 
ward. We had drawn our pistols, and as we 
reached the top we were ready to use them. 

Where our horses were tied two men were roll- 
ing and tumbling over each other. They were 
Sandy and Alfredo Boez. 

Let up, man ! ” cried Sandy. I’ve done ye 
no harm.” 

'‘You spy on me. You shall die!” yelled 
Boez. 

They did not hear us as we came closer, and 
Boez had his pistol at Sandy’s ear when Don gave 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 125 

the Spaniard a swinging blow from behind that 
sent him flying. The pistol flew out of his hand 
and went off w’ith a loud bang as it struck a rock. 
I hastily secured it and placed it in my pocket. 

Sandy rose up and jumped on the Spaniard, 
pummeling him with all his might. 

Boez, finding himself in a bad situation, 
pleaded for mercy. 

“ You are a would-be murderer, and don’t de- 
serve any mercy,”’ said my brother. 

“ It is all a mistake,” gasped Boez, while Sandy 
continued to pound away at him. 

The horses, growing restless, demanded 
Sandy’s attention, but it was with great reluctance 
that he ceased his castigation of our enemy. 

“ You must- consider yourself our prisoner,” 
said Don as the Spaniard arose from the ground. 

“ Your prisoner ! ” exclaimed Boez with a 
scowl on his battered face. 

“ Yes, our prisoner. We are going to land you 
in jail. It is not safe to have you strolling 
around with murder in your heart.” 

“ Et ees all a meestake. I was shooting at 
wild birds. I did not know you was here.” 

“ It’s not true ! ” thundered Don, “ you over- 
heard our conversation at the hotel last night, and 
you came on here, ahead of us, with the deliberate 
intention of killing us. It is time you were shut 


126 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Up behind the bars where you can’t do aiiy more 
harm. A creature like you is hardly fit to 
live.” 

“ I shall not go with you. You cannot take 
me.” 

“ We will see about that.” Then addressing 
his remarks to Oliver and myself, Don continued : 
“ You keep your guns on him, boys. If he makes 
a move to get away, wing him. I want to talk 
to Sandy.” 

Don walked away to where our guide was at- 
tending the horses. When he came back he said : 
“ Now, boys, Sandy says there is a man lives 
about a mile from here who is an officer of the 
law. We will place Boez in his charge and then 
we will continue our day’s outing. I don’t pro- 
pose to have it spoiled by such a scoundrel as this. 
Then he spoke to the Spaniard, saying : “ Boez, 
at the word of command you must march on. If 
you make any attempt to escape you will be shot 
down like a dog. Do you understand ? ” 

For answer Alfredo Boez shot out a look of 
hate at us that was horrid in its concentrated 
malignity. 

Sandy brought a short strap to Don, and with 
this Boez’ hands were bound together, not, how- 
ever, without a struggle on the part of the Span- 
iard. 


OP THE PHILIPPINES. 


127 


We mounted our horses, one after another tak- 
ing turns in watching Boez until we were all in 
the saddle, with the exception, of course, of the 
Spaniard, who remained afoot. 

When everything was in readiness we moved 
off, Boez in the van and we following with drawn 
pistols. 

Down the rough and rock-strewn path we went 
until we reached the main road. Along this we 
moved in the same order until we were within a 
short distance of the house where, Sandy said, 
lived an officer of the law. Once our prisoner 
had refused to go another step, but the cold 
muzzle of Don’s revolver placed under his ear 
caused the Spaniard to change his mind. 

As we reached the summit of a slight rise in the 
road, we were startled by the sight of an immense 
herd of carabao, or water buffalo, coming up the 
opposite side of the hill. The animals were rush- 
ing along pell-mell, and the earth trembled with 
the pounding of their hoofs. The main body 
kept to the road, but many of them scattered to 
the right and to the left. 

We were in a quandary, and knew not which 
way to turn. Sandy was at a loss for words to 
express his astonishment and concern. Finally 
he blurted out : “ We’ve got to cut and run for it, 
or we shall all be trampled to death. There is no 


128 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


time to lose,” and with that he turned his horse 
and dashed away, shouting to us to come on. 

For a moment we looked at the onrushing 
mass of horned cattle. It was a veritable sea of 
hides and horns that threatened to engulf us. 
Closer and closer it came. Boez stood stock-still, 
paralyzed with fear. He looked at us appeal- 
ingly. We did not know what to do with him. 
To abandon him then, with his arms pinioned, 
would be little short of murder. Riding close 
to him, I bent down and unbuckled the strap that 
confined his hands. Make for a tree ! ” I 
shouted; ‘‘ it is your only chance.” 

Boez needed no urging. We saw him run for 
the woods, that grew on either side of the road, as 
we put spurs to our horses and dashed off after 
Sandy the guide. 

On we went — ahead of us possible safety, be- 
hind us sure destruction. The bellowing of the 
carabaos made a horrid sound that I shall not soon 
forget. Our horses were frenzied by the noises 
of the cattle in our rear, and it was difficult to 
keep them under control. They sped along that 
mountain road with the speed that terror lends. 

At a bend in the road we came up with Sandy, 
who was waiting for us. 

Thank your God, you're safe so far ! ” he 
cried. “Follow me closely now, and we will 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


129 


soon be out of danger. The cattle will keep to 
the main road.” 

He dashed through a maze of tropical vegeta- 
tion that threatened to trip our horses at almost 
every step, but the sure-footed island beasts were 
just as anxious as we were to escape from danger, 
and they made no false moves. Up we went until 
we came to a rise that overlooked the main road. 
The herd clattered by us on a run. Suddenly 
there sounded a cry for help. Then shriek fol- 
lowed shriek. 

“ Those are women’s voices ! ” yelled Don, put- 
ting spurs to his horse and dashing off in the 
direction whence the sounds came. 

W e all followed, skirting the road by riding on 
the higher land on the right. Up hill and down 
vale we went, and the riding was about as rough 
as any I ever did. From rock to rock our horses 
leaped with the nimbleness of cats. Through 
the foliage we caught glimpses of the cattle. 
Soon we came to the place where the cries still 
sounded, although now they came fainter. Cau- 
tiously we peered through the foliage that hid the 
road from our view. Here a strange sight met 
our gaze. An overturned carriage lay in the 
road, and the horses that had drawn it were piled 
up beside it. On either side there was a hurrying 
stream of frenzied carabaos rushing by. The 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


130 

whole confused mass of horses, carriage, and the 
people under it was but a few feet from our side 
of the road. 

“We have got to do something for these 
people,” cried Don, dismounting and hastily tying 
his horse to a tree. 

“ I think so, Don,” said I, “ but what can we 
do?” 

Don glanced quickly around. We were in a 
fringe of woods that bordered the road, and on 
the ground lay a dead tree. It was not very 
large, and my brother began dragging it toward 
the road. 

I got down from my horse and hitched him to 
a tree. “ What are you going to do? ” I ques- 
tioned, at the same time taking hold of the tree 
and aiding him in his efforts. 

“ You will see presently,” was the response. 

“ Come lend a hand,” said Don, nodding to 
Oliver and Sandy. They dismounted quickly 
and fastened their animals close by mine. 

“ Now,” cried Don, “ up with her ! ” 

The butt of the tree was now close to the road 
and as we put the tree on end I discovered Don’s 
object. “ Now we must let it fall carefully,” 
said Don*. 

“Wait a minute!” cried Sandy, “I have a 
rope that we can ” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 1 3 1 

No, no,’’ interrupted Don, “ we haven’t time 
for that. When I give the word, let go.” 

Looking out at the moving mass my brother 
saw a little break : “ Let her go ! ” he shouted, 
and we all sprang away. 

For a moment the tree poised in the air, then it 
went over, directly in front of the overturned car- 
riage. There it lay acting as a breakwater to the 
surging sea of cattle. The branches of the tree 
spread round and about the pile, effectually pro- 
tecting it. The carabaos took the further side of 
the road thus enabling us to go to the aid of the 
people underneath the carriage. 

Carefully pushing our way in, Don and I 
slightly lifted the overturned vehicle and peered 
under it. Two men and two ladies lay there 
with the seats of the carriage on top of them. 

Sandy and Oliver coming to our aid, we soon 
lifted the vehicle a little more; and propping it up, 
— but not righting it because of the cattle still 
moving on the other side, — we were enabled, with 
a little care, to drag the seats out without injur- 
ing the people. 

“ Oh, me leg! ” groaned one of the men. 

Are you badly hurt ? ” inquired Don, as he 
lay hold of the man and drew him out. 

“ By George ! ” exclaimed Don, “ if this isn’t 
Matt Capsan I ” 


132 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ Indade it’s mesilf,” said that individual, 

an’ I belave I’m almost kilt intoirely ! ” 

I remembered, as soon as I heard the name 
Matt Capsan, that he was one of the sailors of the 
Golden Rover who had sided with Captain Bar- 
tell against the mutineers, and who had left at 
Manila with us. 

Matt could not walk well alone, so Oliver 
assisted him to a seat on a little rise of ground. 

“ Well ! well ! ” I heard him exclaim, “ and if 
this aint Oliver Folsom. But don’t moind me 
now, b’y. Go an’ assist the captain and the 
ladies.” 

“ What captain ? ” inquired Oliver. 

Captain Bartell, of course — he’s under the 
carriage.” 

I was busy with Don trying to extricate the 
people from under the carriage, doing my best; 
but when I heard the name of the captain I paused 
for a moment to inform Don of what I had heard. 

“By Jove! Captain Bartell here!” exclaimed 
Don in a loud, surprised voice. 

“ Yes, my friends, I am here, and I can assure 
you I am in a very uncomfortable position,” an- 
swered the captain. 

We redoubled our exertions, and soon we had 
the satisfaction of getting them all out. They 
were considerably shaken up, but no bones were 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


^33 


broken. Both horses had been killed, one having 
his neck broken and the other being pierced 
through the chest by a thick splinter from the 
pole of the carriage. The carriage was a wreck. 

“ A miraculous escape ! ” muttered Captain 
Bartell, turning to give his attention to the ladies, 
who were in a highly nervous state. 

The cattle had passed by now, but we could still 
hear the thunder of their hoofs as they rushed on. 

From Matt Capsan we learned that he had 
drifted to Rumida and had there entered the 
service of a gentleman named Amos Vinton, who 
had married one of Captain Bartell’s sisters. 
The captain, Mrs. Vinton, and another sister, 
were out driving, with Matt as coachman, when 
they met the herd of frenzied carabaos. 

Boys,” said the sailor, “ w’n I saw thim 
bastes cornin’ along the road, bejabers there was 
tin tousand of thim, if there was wan. I thought 
me toime had come, and I wished I was safe 
aboord a good ship ! ” 

Captain Bartell succeeded in calming his sis- 
ters, and he turned to us. He opened his eyes 
wide in astonishment when we stepped forward to 
greet him. 

“Well! well!” he exclaimed, “I never 
dreamed of meeting you here, and under these 
circumstances.” 


134 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Glad to have been of service to you,” said 
Don, wringing his hand. 

“ I want to thank you all, my friends, and I 
invite you to visit me at my sister’s home in 
Rumida. Let me introduce you.” 

We all stepped over to where the ladies were, 
and were introduced to those we had not met be- 
fore. They were profuse in their expressions of 
gratefulness to us, but we disclaimed having done 
anything more than was natural under the cir- 
cumstances. 

Their horses being killed and the carriage en- 
tirely useless other means of getting the party 
back to the town had to be provided. 

Our guide solved the problem by riding off to a 
plantation in the neighborhood and returning 
with a team of horses and a comfortable road- 
wagon. 

Captain Bartell and his sisters took their seats 
in the wagon, with Matt holding the reins, and, 
accompanied by us, set off for their destination, 
which was a plantation some distance off the 
main road which led in the direction of the burn- 
ing mountain. 

We had turned off the main road, and had gone 
along for about a mile, when it began to rain. It 
came down in torrents, and we on horseback were 
drenched to the skin. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


135 


“ This is a pretty wet country, captain,” I said 
as the rain let up for a few minutes. 

“ Yes. I understand they have an average 
yearly rainfall of about one hundred and twenty- 
five inches. One day a storm brought seventeen 
inches of water ! ” 

It continued raining, and everything was swim- 
ming. Little brooks became raging torrents. 
We had crossed a number of small bridges, and 
the water had risen almost to the planking. 

“ If we don’t hurry, and there are any more 
bridges to cross,” said Don to me, “ Fm thinking 
the captain won’t reach his destination to-night.” 
ft was then about five o’clock in the afternoon. 

“ Yes,” I replied, that’s so. These streams are 
getting so high that I’m afraid they will lift the 
bridges off their piers.” 

“ Look ! look ! ” cried Oliver in great alarm. 

■“ Great Scott ! ” returned Don, pointing in the 
direction Oliver was pointing out. 

A wall of water was bearing down on us. Just 
ahead was a bridge. Matt saw the danger and 
he lashed his horses into a gallop. Putting spurs 
to our animals we made for the bridge. 




CHAPTER XVIIL 

A NARROW ESCAPE. 

There was a sound in the air like the booming 
of cannon as the torrent came on, uprooting trees 
and bearing on its surface great sticks of timber 
and masses of lumber from bridges it had de- 
stroyed in its destructive course. 

The horses and the wagon were on the bridge 
when the mighty mass of water dashed against it, 
over it, under it, and all around it. 

Screams and shrieks filled the air, only to be 
stifled by the roar of the waters as they swirled in 
foaming masses, engulfing horses, wagon, bridge, 
and the occupants of the vehicle. 

We were but a short distance behind the wagon 
when it reached the bridge. Seeing there was no 
hope of getting over, and it being too late to get 
Matt to turn back, we dashed up the steep bank 
beside the road to escape the flood. Our horses 
seemed to realize the danger, and they scrambled 
up the slippery rocky slope with a courage born of 
fear. 


136 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


137 


The top of the slope was about twenty feet 
above the bed of the stream, and as the land on 
the other side was low and flat, allowing' the 
water to spread out, we were comparatively safe. 

Our first care, after getting up there, was to 
see if we could help the captain and his party. 

“ I’m afraid they are drowned,” said Don 
sadly. 

“I hope not,” I replied. ‘^See! the carriage 
has caught fast on a tree lower down the stream.” 

“ Yes, that’s so, but ” Don stopped, and 

as I looked at him I saw him bending down so 
that he could look under a projecting tree branch. 
“ By Jove ! ” he went on, “ the horses are down 
there struggling to get up the bank.” 

We ran down stream to the brutes and enr 
couraged them with endearing words. After a 
brave struggle they reached the bank in safety, 
and we secured them. 

Oliver, coming up in great excitement, told us 
that he had seen a woman’s dress in a tree on the 
opposite bank. Whether it was only a dress or a 
woman, he was not sure. 

We hurried back to the place, and looked over 
anxiously. We could see a piece of black skirt 
hanging down, but the foliage hid our view so 
that we could make out nothing more. 

“ It may be only a piece of dress,” said Oliver. 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


138 

“ But possibly one of the ladies may have been 
thrown into the tree branches by the flood.” 

“ Well, we must find out,” declared Don as he 
raised his voice in a great shout. 

Listening intently, we waited. 

Again Don shouted. 

We heard a faint muffled groan. 

“ It is someone,” declared Oliver. 

Just then we spied Matt on the opposite bank. 

‘‘ Hey there, Matt Capsan ! ” shouted Don. 

‘‘ Hello yourself ! ” replied the Irishman, “ an’ 
phere are yez ? ” 

“ Over here. Have you seen the captain? ” 

I have. He’s all right an’ his sister Mrs. 
Vinton is wid him.” 

We set up a little cheer then, but I must con- 
fess it sounded dismal in the rain. 

“ Have you seen the other lady ? ” I sung out. 

“ I have not. I’m lookin’ fur her now.” 

“ Well, then, tell us what that is in the tree.” 

After a look around, and following the direc- 
tions we gave him. Matt finally located the tree, 
and looking up into it he gave a shout. 

“ Saints preserve us ! There’s the lady ! ” he 
cried, standing in open-mouthed wonderment. 

The rain ceased, and the water, while still run- 
ning strongly, gradually subsided. 

Don plunged into the foaming water, and being 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


139 


a powerful swimmer managed, after considerable 
effort, and being carried far down the stream, to 
reach the other side. In a little while he stood 
beside Matt Capsan. 

It was but a moment’s work for him to climb 
into the tree. It took him some time to extricate 
the lady from her dangerous predicament, and 
soon we had the satisfaction of seeing her lowered 
to the ground by the help of the sailor. She was 
in a -State of collapse, and it took much time and 
considerable effort on the part of Don to bring 
her around to a realization of the situation. Then 
my brother and Matt moved off with the lady, 
carrying her between them. 

Oliver and I went to the spot where the wagon 
had caught in a tree. The water, we found, was 
only up to our knees; and wading in carefully, to 
avoid slipping into holes, we succeeded in extri- 
cating the road-wagon and dragging it up on the 
higher land. We found it but little damaged, so 
far as its carrying and rolling power was con- 
cerned, but it was pretty well scratched up and 
the seats were gone. With the help of Sandy we 
managed to get the harness — which was still on 
the horses, although in a somewhat delapidated 
condition — into passable shape, and we soon had 
the horses hitched to the vehicle. 

Telling Oliver that I was going to see if I could 


140 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

find a place where we could ford, I mounted my 
own horse and rode off down stream. 

A little way off I came to a wide but shallow 
place. The water was running swiftly over a 
ripple of small stones. I urged my horse in, and 
I found that we could cross with little difficulty. 

Riding back, I made known my discovery, and 
Sandy volunteered to drive the team and wagon 
if we would take charge of his own horse as well 
as of Don’s. This was quickly arranged, and we 
set out for the fording-place. 

We got along very well, considering the nature 
of the place, with its steep slope and rocky sur- 
face. The horses needed some urging to get 
them to take the ford, but the application of “ long 
oats,” as Sandy denominated a good-sized switch 
which he cut, soon forced them in and over. We 
were now in a field that was soggy with water, 
and our progress was not very rapid. As we 
rode slowly along, wondering where to go, we 
encountered Matt. 

“ I was jist cornin’ to tell yez,” said he, with a 
broad grin on his face, bjought there probably by 
sight of the carriage and horses, “ where we 
was. We have found a little house just over the 
hill beyant, and the captain, the ladies, and Don 
is all there.” 

“Good!” I cried. “So they’ve found shelter?” 


OF THE PHIUPPINES. 


141 

“ Indade, an’ we have. It’s a foine little place, 
an’ I’d loike to own it mesilf.” 

“ How are the ladies ? ” inquired Oliver. 

“ They are doin’ foine under the captain’s 
care.” 

Matt then took charge of the team and car- 
riage and Sandy mounted his own horse, and 
Don’s was fastened to the rear of the wagon. 

A short drive further on, and then a turn to the 
right brought us to a neat cottage embowered in 
a mass of tropical vegetation. We were met at 
the gate by Don, who was much surprised that 
we had recovered the wagon. 

The owner of the place, a well-educated native, 
came out then, and invited us in to get dry. He 
was a very hospitable man and did everything he 
could to make us comfortable. 

Our horses were taken to a barn in the rear and 
their needs looked after by Sandy, Matt, and a 
native boy. 

Captain Bartell greeted us as we came into the 
house, and in answer to our inquiries said that his 
sisters were doing very well under the circum- 
stances. Of course we compared remembrances 
of our encounter with the flood and considered it 
little short of a miracle that we had escaped with 
so little' real injury. 

“Well, well!” exclaimed the captain, indulging 


142 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


in a little laugh; “I thought when I came here 
that I should find it a dull, slow place, but I must 
say the place is getting pretty rapid — two narrow 
escapes from death in one day is too much. I 
don’t wonder that my sisters are in a highly ner- 
vous state.” 

We, being much younger, thought it highly ex- 
hilarating. 

It had now cleared oflf, and the ground was 
rapidly diydng, but the brooks and water-courses 
were still running at full capacity. 

After we were thoroughly dried, a bountiful 
supper was placed before us, to which we did 
ample justice. We talked over the events of the 
day and planned out what we should do next. 
Our host, overhearing some of our talk, informed 
us that it would be impossible to continue the 
journey at present as another bridge on the road 
had been washed away by the flood. “ Besides,” 
he said, “ the captain has decided to remain here 
over night; his sisters are in no condition to go 
on until to-morrow, at least.” 

Well, then,” said Don, “ with your kind per- 
mission we will remain; although I am afraid we 
are imposing on your good nature.” 

“ Not at all,” returned the Filipino smilingly. 
I have remarked before that the natives are a 
thoroughly hospitable people; and, in all my ex- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, I43 

perience with them, I have never had reason to 
think otherwise. But sad to say, their generosity 
has sometimes been imposed upon. 

After supper we were entertained by stories 
which our host related, and by the singing of his 
daughter, a miss of fourteen, who accompanied 
herself on the guitar, which she played surpris- 
ingly well. 

W e sat on the veranda that ran along one side 
of the house, and which was an ideal place, with 
its hammocks and easy chairs. The moon shone 
brightly while the big-leaved vegetation cast 
dense shallows. I was really entranced by the 
beauty of the scene and the delightful pureness of 
the air. 

The little miss knew many well-known songs, 
and we all joined in and had a good time. 

I shall never forget that night ; it is one of the 
most delightful in my memory. And I think it 
safe to say that it is so with both Don and Oliver, 
judging from the enthusiastic way in which they 
sometimes recall it. 

It was late when we retired, and being thor-- 
oughly tired out we slept like “ logs.” 

I was the first of our party to awake. I arose, 
dressed myself, and went downstairs. Breakfast 
was preparing and I went outside and took a stroll 
about the place. 


144 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Taking a lane that led through a grove of 
cocoaniit palms, I soon came to a wide brook that 
ran along merrily. Its banks were covered with 
a dense growth of ferns, and there were many 
lofty trees of various species. A canoe floated 
gracefully on the bosom of the brook fastened to 
a tree on shore by a rope. 

I stepped into the craft and picked up the 
paddle, which was handsomely inlaid at the 
handle with bone and pearl in a fanciful and beau- 
tiful design, to examine its workmanship. The 
canoe bobbed up and down with the motion of 
the water. I began to speculate on the owner- 
ship of the boat when my thoughts were inter- 
rupted by the voice of the miss who had sung for 
us so entertainingly the previous evening. 

Looking up, I greeted her with a cheerful 
“ good-morning,” and we were soon discussing 
the merits of the canoe. She cast off the fasten- 
ing, and sprang into the craft, laughing merrily. 
Seizing the paddle, she said in a musical voice: 
“ We shall have a ride before breakfast.” 

The canoe shot from shore in a twinkling, and 
the water from the blades, as she thrust them 
gracefully into the brook, glistened in the sun- 
light like flashing pearls. Down the stream we 
went swiftly and noiselessly. The waters broad- 
ened until they formed a miniature lake. On 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 145 

either side the land sloped upward to hill on hill, 
until the gigantic mountain o’ertopped them. 

We started on the return, keeping close to 
shore. We passed native huts with gardens run- 
ning to the water’s edge. 

Seated on a bench in a summer-house at the 
foot of a garden I saw — Alfredo Boez ! 


CHAPTER XIX. 


WHAT BOEZ TRIED TO DO. 

The Spaniard saw me at the same time that I 
saw him and he arose with an exclamation of sur- 
prise. He raised his hand and shouted. 

“ Do you know him ? ” questioned my com- 
panion, ceasing to paddle. 

“ Yes, but I am sorry that I do,” I replied. 

“ Oh!” 

“ He is a bad fellow.” 

“ Then we’d better go on.” 

One minute ! I should like to hear what 
he has to say.” 

Alfredo Boez beckoned for me to come ashore. 

“ What do you want? ” I shouted. 

“ I wish to speak to you alone,” he replied, 
walking down to the water as close as he could. 

I considered the matter a moment, and then 
asked the girl to paddle closer to shore. This 
she did; and then I saw that the Spaniard looked 
like a tramp. Plis clothes were torn and he had 
a generally disheveled appearance. 

146 


















ALFREDO BOEZ AND THE MAD CATTLE. — Page I47. 





OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


147 


'' I had a bad time with the cattle/' he said, 
noticing my gaze at his apparel. 

“Yes?” I returned with a questioning look; 
“ how was that ? ” 

“ Well, you see, I climb the tree w’en you let 
me go — and I thank you for that, Americano. 
The bulls came rushing on. Some fall down. 
Others fall on top of them and up three four high 
they come. They shake the tree, which is a small 
one, till I fall out. Ha ! ” He clenched his hands 
and gritted his teeth. “ I fall on them and roll 
off. I run, run, run, till I fall again in the brush, 
down in a big hole. My clothes all torn, see ! ” 
He pointed at his tattered garments. “ But I was 
safe. I climb up after a time and look out, the 
cattle are gone. What shall I do ? I run around, 
till last night I came here. Your must help me. 
Nobody here knows me. What shall I do? I 
have lost all my money.” 

You are in bad luck, certainly,” I replied, 
“ but you can blame no one but yourself for it.” 

Boez scowled and turned away. 

While the fellow deserved but little pity, yet I 
could not help feeling sorry for him. I put my 
hand in my pocket and drew out two Spanish dol- 
lars, which I tossed to him after calling out his 
name. 

He turned in time to catch the coins. 


148 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ That will help you to get back to Rumida,” 
I said. 

“ You have my pistol/' he said. 

“ I have/' I replied. 

“ Give it to me." 

“ I will not." 

“ Why, are you afraid? " 

“ Not of you, Mr. Don; but you don't deserve 
it. You are too reckless; you shoot at my 
friends." 

“ I will promise not to interfere with them." 

‘‘ I can’t trust you.” 

Then you will not give it to me? ” 

“ Certainly not.” 

Then the Spaniard, in great rage, flung the 
coins at my head, but he being a poor marksman, 
they went wide of the mark and fell splashing 
into the water. 

“ I will get them for you later on,” said the 
girl with an arch look. 

“ Oh, you may keep them for your trouble 
when you get them,” I said. 

“ Thank you, but I shall return them to you.” 

“ Americano ! ” shouted Boez, beside himself 
with rage. “ Look out for yourself. I swear 
revenge against you all.” 

“ Let me tell you something,” I replied. I 
would advise you to get away from here as soon 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, I49 

as you can, or before you know it you will be in 
jail. Don’t be foolish, but take my advice.” 

Shaking his fist at me, Alfredo Boez disap- 
peared in the shrubbery near the native house. 

Again the canoe flew through the water, and I 
paid but little heed to my surroundings, so busy 
was I with my own thoughts. 

The voice of my companion aroused me. I 
am going back another way. There is a little 
stream there on the left. It is not very wide, but 
we can easily get through it, and it is much 
shorter; but we will have to walk a little further 
to our house when we stop.” 

I looked and saw a narrow gorge on our left 
that was almost concealed by vegetation, but as 
we approached it I saw that it was sufficiently 
wide for several canoes side by side. 

The water was not very deep, except in places. 
The banks or walls were quite high, perhaps 
from twenty to thirty feet, and very precipitous. 
In places the trees and bushes formed a lattice- 
work roof to the gorge, and with the light stream- 
ing down through the interstices thus formed, 
the effect was quite novel and pretty. 

We had gone on in his curious waterway for 
some distance when we heard a crash overhead, 
and the next instant a large rock fell just in front 
of th^ canoe with a loud splash. 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


150 

We both were startled. 

“ Why, this is a dangerous place ! ” I said. 

‘‘Oh, no!” replied the girl; “someone must 
have thrown that.” 

While she was speaking she brought the canoe 
under a large projecting ledge. 

“ Here we are safe,” she said. 

“ By George,” I muttered to' myself, “ can it be 
Boez?” 

While I was still debating the matter, and won- 
dering what was to be done under the circum- 
stances, there was another crash and the project- 
ing ledge trembled with the blow of a large 
bowlder rolled down on to it from above. The 
bowlder rolled over the edge and into the stream, 
creating waves that rocked the canoe so fiercely 
that it threatened to capsize; but the consummate 
skill of the native lass kept it from turning over. 

I was boiling with rage. I felt sure now that 
it was that scoundrel Boez. I was sorry that I 
had taken pity on him. He was a merciless 
wretch. He was willing to kill not only me, who 
had done him. several good turns, but this inno- 
cent native girl who was in no way concerned in 
our affairs. 

I drew my revolver, and saw that it was prop- 
erly loaded. I bade the girl bring the canoe 
close to the shore. This she did, and I found that 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 151 

I could get a footing without exposing myself to 
our enemy. 

Cautiously I crept along under the overhang- 
ing brush and vines, being careful not to disturb 
them, until I came to a spot behind a big rock that 
projected from the side wall. It was overhung 
with a large-leaved bush, which screened me, but 
allowed me to peep up at the top of the gorge. 
Gazing upward I waited patiently. In a moment 
I saw a man peering over the edge of the gorge. 
It was Alfredo Boez, and there was a look of de- 
moniacal rage on his distorted features. He was 
poising a large rounded stone preparatory to 
pushing it over on to the projecting ledge, when 
I pointed my revolver at him, took careful aim, 
and fired. 

The stone rolled down and splintered off a great 
piece of the ledge. 

The girl cried out, and I scrambled back to aid 
her. I was afraid that she had been killed or 
badly wounded. 

I found that a big piece of the rock had pierced 
the bottom of the canoe, which at once filled and 
sunk. The girl was in the water, and quickly she 
swam toward me. She hardly needed my help, 
but I reached out and drew her up on the foot- 
hold. 

Are you hurt? ” I inquired. 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


^ 5 * 

‘‘Oh, no!’’ she replied with a rueful look; 
“ but my canoe I ” 

“ Yes, it is too bad. Perhaps it can be fixed.” 

“ I hope so.” 

Then I began to wonder if I had hit the Span- 
iard. I had heard no cry ; but then — I thought — 
it may have been drowned by the crashing of the 
bowlder as it tore down the rocky wall and splin- 
tered the ledge. 

I peeped out cautiously, and looked up. I 
could see nothing but the slightly inclined wall of 
rock covered with ferns and vegetation. It was 
perfectly silent there in the gorge and on the bluff. 
It was a dangerous hazard to scale the rocky side, 
but I determined to do it. As I made a move to 
go the girl seized my arm. 

“ You must not go! ” she cried in suppressed 
alarm. 

“ There is nothing else to be done.” 

“ It is too dangerous. You may be killed. 
Perhaps if you fire your pistol someone may come 
to help us. Try it, before you go up there.” 

The idea was a good one, and I wondered why 
I had not thought of it before. 

Pointing my pistol straight up in the air I 
emptied the remaining charges in rapid succes- 
sion. Then I proceeded to reload. 

“ Are we far from the house? ” I asked, 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


153 


“ It is but a short distance away,” she replied. 

“ Then the shots could easily be heard? ” 

“ I think so.” 

We waited and listened. 

“ Perhaps you’d better fire again; they may be 
looking, but cannot tell the exact location,” said 
the girl after we had waited some time. 

Acting on her suggestion, I again fired. At 
the second shot, I heard a shout, and in a short 
time I saw Don, Oliver, and several others peer- 
ing over the bluff. 

I sprang into full view and the girl followed 
me. 

‘‘Well! well!” cried Oliver, “what are you 
doing down there? ” 

“ ril tell you some other time,” I replied; “ just 
now I think you’d better take a look around for 
Alfredo Boez.” 

“ Alfredo Boez! ” cried Don; “ is he here? ” 

“ He was a short time ago,” I replied. 

“ What was he doing? ” 

“ Trying to kill us.” 

“ How.” 

“ Rolling down bowlders.” 

“ A pretty wretch he is ! ” 

“ See if you can find him. I shot at him, but 
I don’t know whether I hit him or not. I hope 
I did.” 


154 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


Don gave directions to Oliver to help us, say- 
ing that he was going to search for the Spaniard. 
The boat being useless, and there being no other 
way out of our predicament, the girl and I pro- 
ceeded to climb the steep wall of the gorge by 
means of the vines and mass of vegetation grow- 
ing there. 

As we ‘neared the top the ascent became more 
difficult; but aided by Oliver and the others, we 
managed to crawl over the edge. - 

Once on top we were plied with questions in- 
numerable. We answered them all, and ex- 
pressed our gratification that the shots had been 
■ heard. 

So that scoundrel Boez is around, eh ? ” said 
Oliver as we walked along. 

“Yes,” I replied, “ and I almost think it would 
have been better if I had not loosened his bonds 
yesterday when we met the frenzied cattle.” 

When we came to the house, we were greeted 
by Captain Bartell and his sisters, who were now 
quite recovered from the shock they had received. 
Of course we had to tell our adventure, and the 
ladies made quite a heroine of the little lass. 
And, I must say, she was quite as calm under try- 
ing circumstances as anyone could be. 

Don came back after a while and reported that 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


155 


he had scoured around, but had been unable to see 
anything of our enemy. 

After a good wash and straightening out, we 
all sat down to breakfast. There was fruit of all 
kinds in profusion. Strawberries grown on the 
place, with rich cream from native cattle, formed 
a delicious part of the meal. Coffee made from 
berries grown right there on the northern part of 
the island, made a satisfactory drink. In fact, 
almost everything we had — and the meal was no 
mean one — was grown on that wonderfully pro- 
lific island. 

“ Let us start for the treasure cave to-day,” 
said Don when we had finished our meal and had 
gone out on the veranda. 

“All right,” said Oliver. “ Fm anxious to 
start at once.” 

“ I am willing,” I said. 

“ Then we will go to-day,” said Don. 


CHAPTER XX. 


OFF FOR THE TREASURE-CAVE. 

We went out to the stable to take a look at our 
horses and have a talk with Sandy the guide. 

Well/’ said Sandy, when we told him that we 
were going on to the volcano. ‘‘ I’ll send word 
to my boss where we are going. He may be anx- 
ious about us, for he expected we would be back 
last night, you know.” 

“ Do so,” said Oliver. 

After thanking our host for his hospitality we 
bade them all good-by and mounted our horses. 
As we rode out they were all gathered on the 
veranda wishing us good luck and a pleasant time. 

“ Be sure and call on us when you come back,” 
called out Captain Bartell; and we promised to do 
so at the first opportunity. 

“ B’ys, I hopes to see you ag’in,” shouted Matt. 

At last we were off for the greatest volcano on 
the island of Luzon. Sandy led the way and Oli- 
ver, Don, and I followed. 

The road led through a forest of tropical 
luxuriance. The air was heavy with a moist 

156 


ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL. — Page 1 56 . 










OF THE PHILIPPINES. 157 

fragrance. There was a great variety of trees 
consisting of bamboos, acacias, pandanus, and 
other kinds. Covering them were networks of 
vines and tree-ferns. Brilliant blossoms dotted 
the whole with an infinite variety of color. The 
earth was covered with plush-like moss of deli- 
cate texture and of most beautiful green color. 
And in every spot and place not otherwise occu- 
pied were innumerable varieties of ferns, from 
gigantic bird’s-nests to the tiniest lace-like crea- 
tions. 

On we went, until we came to the upper woods. 
We were tired and our horses needed a breathing 
spell. After a short rest we continued our jour- 
ney through the woods until we came to some- 
thing of a village at the very edge of the burning 
mountain, where we put up at one of the houses. 
Before we reached this village an unearthly glare 
burst- upon our sight. Smoke was rising, and 
there was a lurid mass of clouds that hung sus- 
pended, swaying back and forth in the sky. 
Sandy told us the place was called The House of 
the Fire-God. 

We found excellent accommodation both for 
ourselves and for our horses. A cheerful fire 
greeted us as we opened the door, for at this alti- 
tude the air was chilly. After a pleasant repast 
we strolled outside to take a look around. 


158 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


'' Now/' said Don, when we were alone on the 
veranda overlooking the burning mountain, from 
which we could see the glare and reflections from 
the great crater, “ to-morrow we will each take a 
guide and explore for ourselves; then we will 
compare notes and afterward decide what is best 
to do." 

After a little discussion, this was agreed to, and 
we separated, each following his own inclinations. 
Now, after Pando Kolo’s description of the way 
to reach the hidden treasure in the secret cave, — 
which we had obtained through Oliver's ruse, — I 
thought it much easier to locate the cave by the 
Tagal’s maunderings than it was to follow Victor 
O. Munn’s description of the route. His map, of 
course, might prove very useful. 

I got into conversation with a Spanish- Ameri- 
can gentleman who was well posted on the crater, 
and he gave me an interesting account of the 
great volcano., 

“ I suppose this is your first visit to the vol- 
cano ? " inquired my companion as we were 
seated before the cheerful fire at the village hotel, 
if such I may call. it. 

“ Yes," I replied; “ I shall have to get a guide 
to take me about." 

“ Oh, you need not do that; I will show you- 
about gladly. There isn’t a nook or cranny of 


OF THE PHILIPPIHES. 


159 


the crater that I do not know. Why, I could go 
there at night and know my way about.” 

“ You must have been here a long time.” 

“ I have. I have lived here for five years — - 
that is, in the neighborhood.” 

After a little further conversation, he suggested 
that we take a walk outside along the edge of the 
crater. I fell in with his notion, and we were 
soon traveling along a path that wound in and out 
of a mass of rock and vegetation. The night was 
a perfect one. The moon was bright and the 
stars shone brilliantly. The glare from the 
crater produced a weird and unearthly effect. 
Here arose a vapory cloud tinged with dull orange 
and red, there a spray of steam sizzled and hissed 
like a steaming caldron. 

The path led downward over rocks jumbled 
and tumbled into all sorts of strange and fantastic 
positions and shapes. There were various lakes 
in the burning mountain, and they were in almost 
constant activity ; and it was indeed a strange and 
moving sight to look down into that volcanic pit 
some five hundred feet deep and nearly a mile in 
circumference. 

Carefully we descended down its rugged sides 
until we stood on the floor of the volcano. Jets 
of steam arose here and there and puffed out from 
projecting rocks. 


l6o FORTUNE HUNTERS 

As we stepped on the black glistening floor of 
the volcanic pit, it sounded like the crunching of 
snow covered with a crust of ice as we moved on. 
My companion informed me that the lava cooling 
rapidly forms a thin vitreous layer resembling 
glass in its nature. It is exceedingly hard and 
very brittle. 

Going along we came to a hillock of lava. It 
was outlined in a mass of bent, twisted, involuted, 
convoluted, distorted shapes that suggested fan- 
tastic forms of strange unearthly reptiles and 
beasts. Then at another turn it seemed to bear a 
resemblance to trees, with exposed roots and 
gnarled trunks all bent by some gigantic power 
into a mass of contorted shapes that defy de- 
scription. 

Beyond was a cave, and, as we approached, 
strange noises sounded underneath the floor that 
seemed to be the suppressed cries of imprisoned 
spirits. My companion thrust his walking stick 
into the cone, and it trembled like a powerful en- 
gine under a full head of steam. The roar was 
deafening. 

I don't wonder the ignorant native is super- 
stitious,” I said to my companion, for the un- 
canny place with its mysterious sounds and 
strange conditions had impressed me wonder- 
fully. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. i6i 

He began to laugh in a quiet way that piqued 
me, and I said, ‘‘ Why do you laugh? ” 

“ Well,” said he, “ about a year ago I was 
much amused by the strange actions of a native 
on the other side of the crater.” 

“ How was that? ” 

“I was on the edge of the crater — not the edge 
of the lake of fire, understand — when I saw this 
native come along a path on which I was stroll- 
ing. He was mumbling to himself in the native 
tongue — which I understand. He did not per- 
ceive me, and I stepped aside behind a large rock 
to let him pass. He was still mumbling to him- 
self, and I knew that it was some kind of an invo- 
cation to Bili the King of Fire. I could not 
exactly catch the drift of his ideas, but he seemed 
to want him to give him some sign that he was 
not angry with him for something that he, was 
about to do, I followed him cautiously as he 
went down along the path, for I was curious to 
see the outcome.” 

“ Yes,” I said eagerly, as the gentleman paused 
for a moment to look around him. 

'' Well, that fellow’s actions have been a mys- 
tery to me ever since.” 

“Why so? What did he do?” 

“ The Kana went on until he came to a large 
mass of lava piled up into a mound. He went up 


i 62 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


to it and then gazed eagerly about him. There 
was no one in sight, for I was safely hidden from 
view, and I watched him with the greatest curi- 
osity in the world. There were spurts of steam 
and sulphurous vapor all about him, and the curi- 
ous maneuvers he went through reminded me of 
ancient heathenish rules that I have read about. 
He would prostrate himself in the most abject 
way; then' he would suddenly arise and strut 
along proudly. A rumbling noise quickly sent 
him down again. A sudden flash or glare of 
light would cause him to tremble violently. 
Then he would walk along slowly and with a ser- 
pent-like motion. He at last came to a kind of 
hollow under a projecting ledge of lava that 
cropped out from the wall of the crater. Into 
this I saw him disappear. He had been gone but 
about five minutes when there was a terrific ex- 
plosion in one of the smaller lakes. A column 
of fire and lava rose full fifty feet in the air. A 
vile sulphurous smoke filled the neighborhood 
with an unearthly ghastly glare; and, in the midst 
of it I saw the native dart from the cave-like 
opening in a very frenzy of terror and fear. A 
cry from his lips sounded out that gave me a cold 
chill. I felt like fleeing from the spot, but there 
was a strange sort of fascination about the whole 
thing that held me spellbound. 

“ I eagerly watched to see what he would do 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 163 

next. He fell on his knees and remained there 
a long while. Several smaller reports followed 
the first one in irregular succession. Then, when 
the noises had ceased, the fellow got up and again 
approached the hollow. Again he disappeared 
from my view, and I waited a long time to see the 
outcome of his performances. I wondered what 
he was doing, and being eager to know I left my 
hiding-place to get closer. As I did so there was 
a loud dull rumbling under the floor of the crater, 
followed by the most weird and unearthly sounds 
I ever heard. They sounded like the shrieks of 
furies. Now shrill, high, and whistling, dying 
away in a low sickening moan that almost froze 
my blood. The floor trembled and shook like the 
deck of a ship that has struck on the rocks. The 
air grew dense with a horrid mixture of sickly 
colors; a fierce rush of pent-up gases burst from 
the fissures in the glossy black floor of the vol- 
cano. The floor split in a hundred new places. 
Flame and steam issued from the surrounding 
rock in a way that seemed like the mad thrust of 
infuriated demons at an unseen foe. A tre- 
mendous rending sound crashed beneath my feet, 
and great blocks of lava rose in the air, only to 
fall back into the seething, boiling fluid of the 
small lake with a loud splash that sent the fiery 
waves washing over the edge.” 

My companion ceased, and seemed to be lost in 


164 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


his remembrance of the scene. I was all curi- 
osity to hear more. I was fascinated with his de- 
scription of the wonderful phenomenon of the 
volcano. I began to trace a resemblance between 
Kolo and the native my companion was describ- 
ing. Were they the same? Was I on the brink 
of a discovery? I was anxious to learn more. 
Did this man know more than he was going to 
tell me ? Had he investigated the cave ? Had he 
discovered the treasure? Was our coming use- 
less, after all ? 

“ Go on ! ” I cried, with barely repressed excite- 
m.ent. 

“ Oh, yes,” he said, passing his hand over his 
brow as though brushing away some obstruction 
to his memory. 

“ The native — what became of him ? ” I ques- 
tioned eagerly. 

“ I saw him flee from the place in a very panic,” 
replied my companion. 

“ What was he doing in there? ” 

“ I don’t know; perhaps something connected 
with a heathenish rite.” 

“ Did you enter at the cave to see ? ” 

“ I did, later on.” 

Can you show me the cave ? 

‘‘ I can, Come on,” 


CHAPTER XXL 


THE TREASURE-CAVE. 

As we went along I noticed several places that 
tallied with what Kolo had described in his de- 
lirium when Oliver had taken the part or char- 
acter of Bili. The farther we went the more con- 
vinced I became that I was on the right track of 
discovery, 

“ What did you see in the cave? ” I said to my 
companion, for I was burning to know the worst, 
or the best, as the case might be. 

‘‘ I penetrated the opening for a considerable 
distance and then I came to a rough wall that in- 
closed the end of the passage,” replied my com- 
panion. 

'‘Was there nothing in the cave?” I ques- 
tioned anxiously. 

“ It was quite dark in there at first; but, after 
a while, I became accustomed to it, and besides 
there was a little rift in the rocks above that let 
in a beam of light. In looking around I found a 
box of curious workmanship ” I gave a 

165 


i66 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


gasp. There was a tightening at my throat that 
gave me a strange feeling. 

I guess these fumes are getting too much for 
you,” said my companion, looking at me. 

“ Oh, no ! if will pass,” I replied. But, oh, 
how anxious I felt to learn more ! 

This box ! ” I gasped — “ was there anything 
in it?” 

“ Nothing whatever. I think the native must 
have dropped it there in his fright.” 

Now I was tortured anew by the thought that 
Pando Kolo and this native were not the same 
person. Perhaps another knew the secret, and 
had taken away the diamonds, leaving the box! 
I could hardly restrain my anxiety to be taken to 
the cave. 

“ You are sure of the location? ” I said. 

‘‘ Perfectly.” 

I suppose others know it, of course? ” 

'‘No, you are the first one I have spoken to 
about it. I held it as a little secret of my own, 
thinking that some day the native might come 
back; but I have never seen him from that day to 
this.” 

" It is a wonder that others have not found it.” 

“ Well, it is pretty well hidden — that is, the 
real opening to the cave. Of course the hollow 
in front is only covered with volcano grass and 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


167 


ferns, and anyone is likely to stumble on that. 
The opening to the inner cave, as it might be 
called, is very narrow and tortuous. The last 
time I entered it the opening had become still nar- 
rower.” 

“ How was that? ” 

“ Because there is almost continual change here 
in the crater. Old fissures are sometimes closed 
up and new ones appear.” 
i see. 

My companion pointed with his cane, and said, 
“ There where you see the bold bluff, just under 
it is the cave.” 

I looked about and the surroundings tallied 
exactly with Kolo’s description, also with th’e 
description on the map left by Victor Munn. 

I longed to rush onward and enter the opening, 
and I restrained my impulse with great difficulty. 

I became nervous and excited, and my com- 
panion noticed it. 

“ I believe,” he said, “ the noxious vapors are 
making you ill.” 

I was willing that he should think so, and I 
therefore did not undeceive him. 

After a journey of great roughness during 
which we climbed and stumbled over great blocks 
and slabs of lava, and tripped — at least I did — 
over many a fissure, we at last stood before the 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


1 68 

recess under the bold bluff. “ What is there be- 
yond this ? ” I said to myself. Is the treasure 
still there, or are we to meet a bitter disappoint- 
ment? ” 

I stepped forward and pushed aside an over- 
hanging bush. 

It would be useless to attempt to enter at 
night,” said my companion. “ It is difficult 
enough in the daytime.” 

Reluctantly I gave up the idea of entering the 
treasure-cave that night. 

‘‘Come,” said my companion, “we must go; 
see, it is clouding up. I believe we shall have 
rain. It is getting darker every minute. We 
must hurry and get out of this. The fumes are 
something horrible at times.” 

He led the way across the floor of the volcano 
until we came to a sloping rocky way that twisted 
in and out amongst jagged ledges and distorted 
crags of lava. Upward we mounted, leaping 
from rock to rock, and laying hold Of any piece of 
vegetation that offered to aid us in our toilsome 
climb. 

The rain began to fall ere we reached the top 
or edge of the crater. Looking back, I noted well 
the path by which we came, until I felt perfectly 
sure that I could find it again. A dense steam 
now arose from the pit, dashed here and there 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


169 


with the glare of volcanic fires. It was truly un- 
earthly in its weird ghostliness? Once on top, 
and our way was pursued without difficulty. We 
soon reached the public house of the village, and 
my companion invited me to his room to show me 
some curiosities that he had there. I went with 
him, and while I was interested in what he showed 
yet I was full of impatience for the morning, so 
that I might put my knowledge to the test. 

“ Here is the box that I found,” said my com- 
panion, coming from a closet and holding in his 
hands a dark-looking affair that on close exami- 
nation proved to be a fine piece of cabinet work 
curiously inlaid with bone and pearl in an exceed- 
ingly intricate design. 

I took it in my hands, and a strange thrill shot 
through me. I looked at it closely. 

“ A beautiful specimen of old Tagalog work,” 
said my companion, pointing out its great beau- 
ties. 

“ It is indeed,” I replied. “ I would give a 
good deal to be the owner of it.” 

“ Well, I have several specimens of this ancient 
work; and, if you greatly desire it, why, it is 
yours.” 

“ Well ! ” I cried in great surprise, “ I could 
hardly expect that ! ” 

“ Oh, that’s all right ! ” he replied laughingly. 


170 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ You are exceedingly kind,” I said diffidently; 
“ there is — well I — I have a reason for wanting 
this, and perhaps some day I may be able to tell 
you why.” 

“ A present for someone, perhaps,” said my 
companion, looking at me quizzically. 

I made no reply, not wishing to continue the 
conversation in that direction, but opened the box 
and examined its interior, which was divided into 
several compartments. 

“ And this is the box you found in the cave 
after the native disappeared?” I said, peering 
into the box. 

“Yes,” was the reply. 

“ And you never saw him again ? ” 

“ Never.” 

“ Do you suppose it belonged to him? ” 

“ Well, of course, I could not say. I think it 
likely though that it did.” 

“ What do you suppose a box like this was used 
for ? ” I asked, for I was determined to learn all 
that I could from my companion. 

“ Well it is likely that the box or casket be- 
longed to some chief, and in it he probably kept 
his trinkets.” 

“ I wonder what trinkets they could have 
had?” 

“ The ancient chiefs used to have a monopoly 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


171 

of the piracy of the coast, and very likely this box 
has held gems of almost priceless value.” 

After thanking my companion for his kindness, 
I went to the room that had been assigned to Don, 
Oliver, and myself, taking the box, wrapped up 
in paper, with me. 

“ Hello ! ” cried Don as I entered the room, 
“ where have you been ? ” 

I gave an evasive reply, although I was nearly 
consumed with a desire to -tell my two brothers 
all that I had learned ; but as I had a little scheme 
on hand that I wanted to put through alone, I 
withheld saying anything about my little trip in 
the crater of the burning mountain. 

“ By Jove! what have you there? ” put in Oli- 
ver, coming to me and laying his hand on the 
packet which contained the box. 

“ Oh, it’s nothing! ” I replied, with an assump- 
tion of carelessness that I was far from 
feeling. 

“ I believe you have found the diamonds ! You 
have got them in that package ! ” cried Oliver. 

“ Oh, no, I haven’t ! ” 

‘‘ Honest Injun? ” 

Honest Injun!” 

They bantered me until we all prepared to re- 
tire; soon they were sound asleep. Not so with 
myself. I was too full of my project to fall 


172 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


asleep quickly, but I did get a few hours of needed 
rest. 

I awoke early. My brothers were still sleep- 
ing soundly. I dressed hastily and quietly left the 
house. I walked rapidly along the route I had 
gone over the night before, and soon arived at the 
spot where I must descend to the floor of the vol- 
cano by the rough and jagged route we had so 
toilsomely climbed after the cave had been pointed 
out to me. 

The rain had ceased during the night, and the 
air was beautifully clear and pure, although some- 
what chilly. Carefully I picked my way down 
the jagged path, and I had one or two narrow 
escapes from falling, but I saved myself by seiz- 
ing the growth of grasses and ferns that lined the 
path. 

In safety I reached the bottom, and took my 
course toward the cave. It was a hazardous 
thing to do without a guide, and I have often since 
wondered at my temerity, but I was so bent on at- 
taining my object that I never once dreamed of 
any possible danger. 

The floor of the crater was still in semi-dark- 
ness, though there were places lighted up by the 
glare from some small fiery lakes in the vicinity. 
I felt terribly lonesome down there, but I gave 
but little time to the indulgence of my feelings. I 


OF THE PHILIFPINES. 173 

hurried on as fast as the nature of my surround- 
ings would permit me. 

Once I tripped by catching my heel in a crevice, 
and I went sprawling at full length. I just saved 
myself from plunging into a smoothly boiling 
rivulet of melted lava that oozed from the lake of 
fire near by, by grabbing a block of lava that was 
still so hot that I let go of it almost the same in- 
stant that I touched it. But that touch was suffi- 
cient to stop my momentum, and I picked myself 
up thankful that it was no worse. 

Going on, I eventually reached the sloping wall 
of the crater. There were so many places that 
looked like the cave opening, that at first I was 
puzzled. This did i)ot last long, for I shortly 
struck the right spot, and soon I found the open- 
ing, after bending aside the growth of brush 
there. And lo ! there was a white rock with a 
“ cat's-eye set in it ! 

In a quiver of excitement I forced my way 
through a narrow opening in the rock by getting 
face downward. I had brought a small lamp 
along with me, and this I lighted. I held it out 
in the gloom ahead of me, and looked about. I 
found there was plenty of room overhead and that 
I was lying on the floor of the cave. 

I crawled in and stood upright. It was a fair- 
sized place, with rough and jagged walls of vol- 


174 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

canic origin, and the floor was tilted in all direc- 
tions, so that walking about was not easy. I ex- 
amined the place narrowly by the aid of my lamp. 
I scaled the sides of the cavern by clinging to first 
one jutting spur and then to another, looking for 
an opening. At last my search was rewarded by 
discovering, high up, a fissure that was quite 
wide — perhaps a foot or more — which appeared 
to go in but a short distance; but by persistent 
looking I saw that it made an abrupt turn. Forc- 
ing my body through this narrow opening, I 
emerged, after several sharp turns to the right 
and to the left, into a long winding passage whose 
sides and roof were covered with sharp pointed 
stalactites, and even on the bottom of this corri- 
dor — as it seemed to be — there were stalagmites; 
but these were not so pointed. I went along this 
for some time, when the whole passage-way ran 
upward at a very steep slope. It was a very toil- 
some journey up this incline, and several times I 
bumped my head against the roof of the passage. 
At the head of the incline two other passages 
branched out, one to the right the other to the 
left. 

At a venture I took the corridor on the right, 
and soon I came to a good-sized widening out of 
the passage into which there streamed a beam of 
light. I pushed on through this until I came to 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


175 


a place where the floor pitched downward at a 
very steep angle. I flashed the rays of my lamp 
about, and saw gigantic slabs and rough squares 
of volcanic rock thrown about promiscuously. 
Great heaps were piled up here and there, and 
single pieces lay scattered all about. 

In one corner of the room, as it might be called, 
there was a large table-like piece of stone and on 
it I saw a collection of curious-looking imple- 
ments. My curiosity led me on to see it close by. 
Cautiously I picked my way downward over the 
masses of stone until I stood by the great stone 
table. I shouted for joy, for there lay the great 
Diamond Treasure! 


CHAPTER XXIL 


A STRANGE MEETING. 

I STOOD in wide-eyed astonishment gazing at 
the beautiful spectacle when I heard a noise that 
startled me. Hastily I gathered up the gems and 
thrust them into my pocket. Then I darted away 
and hid behind a great stone. I put out my light 
and waited. 

Soon a light appeared, and three men came into 
the place by an entrance other than the one by 
which I had come. 

By the light, held high above their heads to 
permit its rays to penetrate the chamber, I saw 
three men I never dreamed of seeing again. 
They were Pando Kolo, Cal Bender, and the 
latter’s companion. 

To say that I was astonished conveys but a 
faint idea of my real feelings. A hundred 
thoughts chased through my brain. How did 
they get here? Had the Kahu played false? 
Should I be discovered, what would be my fate? 
How was it going to end ? My chain of thought 
was broken when I saw them prepare to descend. 

176 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


177 


I crouched close to my sheltering rock and 
watched them as they came down. Kolo was 
first to reach bottom, and he rushed toward the 
stone table. A blank look came over his face as 
he stood there, and I immediately divined its 
cause: he knew the diamonds had been there — 
probably abandoned by him in his fright at his 
former visit. I felt sure now that it was none 
other than Kolo whose strange doings had been 
described to me the night before by my com- 
panion. 

“ Have you got the beauties? ” cried Cal Ben- 
der, scrambling down as best he could. Pando 
Kolo remained silent. He was utterly dazed. 

I say ! ” shouted Bender, taking the native by 
the shoulder and shaking him, “ have you got 
’em?” 

The Tagal turned a stony stare at his ques- 
tioner. 

“ Don’t play me false! ” yelled Bender; “none 
of your heathenish hricks now! ” 

“ They are gone ! ” gasped Kolo, recovering his 
voice at last. “ Someone steal them away, 
mebbe those t’ree American boys.” 

“ If you aint a-lyin’, that’s who’s got them! ” 
yelled Bender, crazy with rage and disappoint- 
ment. “ Fd like to catch ’em,” he went on. 
“ Fd wring their necks for ’em ! ” 


178 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


I crouched closer to the rock and drew out my 
pistol, ready to defend myself should I be discov- 
ered; for I doubted not that I should be roughly 
handled and probably killed by the three men, 
now wrought up to such a point that they would 
hesitate at nothing. 

“ A fine state of affairs this is,” said Bender 
after he had searched around. “ Here Tve 
promised the boys aboard the yacht that brought 
us over that I would pay them well for stowing 
us aboard the boat. What chance do I stand now 
of getting away from this cursed place? They’ll 
laugh at me and curse me ! ” 

I understood then how they had come over, but 
how Bender escaped from jail I never learned. 

The three men lingered and seemed loath to 
leave the chamber. They searched around in' a 
vain effort to find the jewels. 

“ Are you sure they were here? ” snarled Ben- 
der. 

“Yes, oh, yes!” replied Kolo. “I dropped 
the box on the table the last time I was here, and 
the diamonds roll out. Then Bili give a great 
cry of anger and the rocks move, and I think sure 
I be killed and I run from the place.” 

“ Why didn’t you take the diamonds with 
you? ” asked the sailor who was Bender’s chum. 

“ I was afraid/’ replied the Tagal. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


179 


''Afraid of what?” snapped Bender. 

" Of Bili, the Fire-God.” 

" Pshaw ! ” exclaimed Bender in disgust. 

" He very angry that time,” said Kolo, looking 
around nervously, while his fingers twitched. 

" You say they were in a box! ” howled Ben- 
der. " Where is the box? ” 

“ I so ’fraid, I take the box an’ leave the dia- 
monds. When I get near the outside I drop the 
box too. I very much afraid — Bili very angry 
with me.” 

" Well,” said Bender finally, " let us get out of 
this.” 

" There’s another way to get out,” said the 
native. 

" Well, show us the quickest way to get out of 
this cursed hole.” 

Pando Kolo led the way up the rocky sloping 
side, and Cal Bender and his chum followed. I 
watched them until they disappeared into a nar- 
row passage-way nearly opposite to the one by 
which I had entered; there I made haste to get 
away after I felt sure that they would not hear 
me. 

I lighted my lamp and flew along the corri- 
dors with all the speed I could. A low rumbling 
sound underneath startled me. I could hardly 
repress the involuntary exclamation of terror and 


i8o 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


surprise that escaped from my lips, as the sound 
was repeated. I hurried along still faster. A 
sudden explosion nearly threw me off my feet. 
The rocky walls and floor shook and trembled in 
a way that inspired me with additional fear and 
anxiety. It seemed to me that the last hour had 
come. As I sped on the detonations became 
louder and more frequent. 

When I came to the space where the passage- 
way widened out, and which I mentioned before, 
a great surprise awaited me. There stood Don 
and Oliver. 

“ Let us get out of this as quick as we can ! ’’ 
I shouted, rushing on ahead. 

Stop ! ” yelled Don. “ You can’t get out that 
way; the entrance is closed! ” 

“ How so? ” I cried, stopping short. 

“ The earthquake has jammed the rocks to- 
gether,” answered my brother in great excite- 
ment. 

“ I believe we are lost,” said Oliver, “ unless we 
can find^some other way out.” 

For a moment I was appalled; the situation was 
absolutely terrifying. Loud, ominous sounds re- 
verberated along the walls and at our feet. The 
floor lifted slightly in some places and sunk down 
at others. 

“ You are absolutely sure we cannot get out by 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. l8i 

the entrance?” I gasped, as I thought of our 
dreadful predicament. 

“ We have tried,” answered Oliver, “ and it is 
impossible.” 

” Then follow me! ” I screamed, dashing back 
along the way I had come, while unearthly sounds 
filled the air. 

Don and Oliver wanted to question me, but I 
told them hastily that there was a possible chance 
for us at the other end — I thought that I might 
stumble on the path that Kolo and his companions 
had taken. 

When we reached the chamber where I had 
found the diamonds on the rough stone table, the 
noises ceased; and I quickly informed my brothers 
of what had taken place there. Joy and surprise 
were mingled with fear for our safety and terror 
at the prospect of being entombed alive. 

We must be prepared for the rascals,” said 
Don, drawing his pistol and advising us to do 
likewise. 

We mounted the rough sloping wall and 
quickly entered the passage taken by Kolo. 
Along this we hurried, expecting every moment 
to face our enemies. 

Suddenly there arose on the silence a loud 
whistling sound that increased in strength and 
shrillness as we proceeded; I thought my ear- 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


182 

drums would burst with the infernal noise. A 
terrific booming sound succeeded it and the rocks 
in our rear crashed together with a crunching 
noise that was truly horrible. We were all too 
terrified for words; not a sound escaped our lips 
as we pressed onward. 

A sharp crashing sound just ahead, followed by 
a great glare of light, brought us to a standstill. 
Before us was a great yawning pit from which 
arose jets of steam and flashes of fire. In the 
glare we saw the forms of Kolo and the others. 
They were rushing about in a panic of fear. 

The pit was about fifteen or twenty feet deep 
with steep jagged sides that ran up to the edge 
and terminated in a comparatively level space sev- 
eral feet wide. We ran around the edge to an 
opening that showed black in the glare from the 
pit. 

“ We ought not to abandon these men ! ” I ex- 
claimed as we were dashing into the opening. 

Don and Oliver looked grave. “ It’s in- 
human,” I went on excitedly, for I dreaded to go 
away and leave them. 

“ What can we do ? ” asked Don. 

“ I don’t know, I am sure, but let us try some- 
thing.” 

'‘We will be suffocated; come on!” yelled 
Oliver, 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 183 

“ No, Fm going back,” I shouted, suiting my 
action to my words. 

“ Hey, you down there ! ” I screamed, when I 
got to the edge of the pit. “ Come this way; 
there is a good path here.” 

Not one of the three seemed to hear me. I 
shouted again ; and Don and Oliver, who had fol- 
lowed, joined in the cry. 

‘‘ They are dazed by the glare and the gases,” 
said Don. 

“ Don’t do that, Frank! ” shouted Oliver, as I 
started to pick my way dowward. 

“ I must,” I replied, continuing my descent. 
I had gone down but halfway when Bender espied 
me and gave a loud shout of joy and astonish- 
ment which somewhat aroused both Kolo and 
the sailor. They saw me, and all staggered to- 
ward me. I reached out my hands to help them, 
when there was a tremendous roaring sound and 
the bottom of the pit rose and fell like a violently 
agitated sheet of water. Rock crashing against 
rock filled the place with sounds of destruction. 
A great glare of light fell around with a lurid 
glow that tinged the projecting rocks and ledges 
with an unearthly glamour. 

“ Come back I ” shouted Don, reaching down to 
aid me. 

I scrambled up just in time to avoid a great 


184 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


mass of stone that fell down from the roof, thus 
making an opening that let in a sight of the blue 
sky. Never was my joy greater than then when 
the light from above streamed down upon us. 
We shouted for joy, although we were still in a 
perilous position. 

Volumes of steam arose from the pit, and we 
never saw Kolo nor the others again. Flashes 
of fire darted up through the vapor and sounds 
that resembled thunder rolled along under our 
feet. The rock began to crumble where we 
stood, and we leaped from place to place, laying 
hold of projecting ledges and scrambling upward 
toward daylight. 

That ascent was the most fearful and perilous 
it was ever my*lot to undertake; but with life as 
the stake, our strength seemed doubled. Up- 
ward we forced our way through stifling gases 
and blinding vapors. Our clothes were torn into 
tatters, and I was extremely fearful of losing the 
diamonds; but, as good fortune would have it, I 
found them — or rather my pockets — intact, when 
we reached the top of the opening. Hardly had 
we scrambled out when a shower of stones fol- 
lowed ns. With all speed we hastened away to 
seek shelter. 

When we looked around we found ourselves on 
the floor of the volcano. This surprised us some- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 185 

what, for we had thought that the cave extended 
under the bluffs at the crater’s edge; but in this 
we had been mistaken, for it was plainly eviden]^ 
that it went under the floor of the crater, and we 
had been deceived by the frequent windings of the 
various passages. 

“ Hurry! ” yelled Don; we must get out of 
this as quickly as possible.” 

We hardly needed the warning, for fhe floor of 
the volcano began to heave and crack like the 
breaking up of ice in the streams when spring 
sets in. 

We sprang over fissures and avoided jets of 
flame and steam in our onward course to the edge 
of the volcano. Dripping with perspiration, we 
climbed the rocky, precipitous side, and at last 
we stood on top, safe. 

Oh, what a relief it was! In very exhaustion 
we sank down in a bed of ferns and grasses. 
When we had somewhat recovered from our vio- 
lent exertions, and our breathing became more 
regular, we began to talk over the situation. 

“You are sure the diamonds are all right, 
Frank? ” said Don, getting up on his feet. 

Before answering, I put my hands in my 
pockets to see if they were still there. I drew 
forth both hands well filled with the gems and 
held them toward both of my brothers. 


i86 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


'' My ! but they are beauties ! ’’ exclaimed Don, 
examining them closely. 

“ Why, you hold a fortune in each hand ! 
cried Oliver in great glee. 

“ Yes,” I said, “ and there are others.” 

“ Well,” said Don, when I had replaced the 
diamonds, ‘‘ we are the only ones that know of 
their existence now, and I think we shall have but 
little more trouble. Pando Kolo, Cal Bender, 
and the sailor have gone to their last judgment. 
But say, Frank, wasn’t there a box? ” 

“Yes,” I replied; “it is in our room at the 
village hotel. I brought it in last night.” 

“ Well, you are sly ! ” put in Oliver. “ How 
did you get it ? ” 

I explained to my brothers how I had obtained 
the box. 

“ Sure the gentleman doesn’t know about the 
diamonds? ” questioned Don. 

“ No,” I replied, “ he knows nothing about 
them.” 

“ Well, let us get back to the hotel and we’ll 
introduce the diamonds and the box to each other 
after their long separation,” said Oliver, laugh- 
ing pleasantly. 

As we moved away from the spot a man darted 
out from behind a clump of bushes that grew be- 
side a pile of stone. He ran away at the top of 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 187 

his Speed and was soon lost to view behind a hill- 
ock of lava covered with dense vegetation. 

Don ran after him a short distance, but soon 
gave up the chase. 

“ Who was he ? cried Oliver, as Don came 
up to us. 

“ I don't know. I could not make him out.” 

Perhaps it was Alfredo Boez ! ” I exclaimed, 
as a suspicion of the Spaniard suddenly entered 
my mind. 

“ By Jove, that's so ! '' exclaimed both of my 
brothers. 


CHAPTER XXIIL 


I GET INTO TROUBLE. 

We went on until we reached our room in the 
village hotel. Of course our tattered condition 
attracted some attention, and we had to narrate 
our adventure; but, you may be sure, we omitted 
any mention of the treasure. 

After securely locking the door of our room, 
and getting out the treasure box, I proceeded to 
empty my pockets of the precious diamonds, put- 
ting them into their ancient receptacle. 

“ We will have to keep a sharp lookout for that 
tricky Spanish scoundrel,” said Don. He is 
somewhere about, and we can’t be too careful.” 

“ That’s right,” put in Oliver; ‘‘ he ought to be 
shot on sight.” 

“True enough,” I said, “but what is the best 
thing to do with the diamonds for the present? ” 

We discussed various plans, but could arrive at 
no satisfactory conclusion for some time. 
Finally Don suggested that we leave the box in 
our room and one of us should always remain 
there with it. To this we agreed. 

i88 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 189 

After a while Don and Oliver went out, leav- 
ing me alone with the treasure. Shortly after 
they had gone there was a knocking at the door 
and I cried out, “ Who’s there? ” 

“ It is I, your companion of last night,” came 
the answer. 

Recognizing the voice, I advanced to the door 
to admit my visitor — after hastily shoving the 
treasure-box under the bed. 

“ Come in,” I said, throwing open the door. 

Advancing into the room, my visitor said that 
he had heard of the adventure of myself and my 
companions, and he had come to congratulate me 
on my narrow escape. 

We both sat down and had a long conversa- 
tion, which was quite interesting to me, for my 
visitor was an excellent talker and a man of edu- 
cation. 

“ Oh, by the way,” he said carelessly, “ will 
you kindly let me see the box that I gave you last 
night? It has a peculiar design on it, and I 
should like to look at it once again.” 

For the moment I was nonplused. I grew sus- 
picious of my visitor. How much did he know ? 
Was it a device on his part to find out something? 
I regretted that I had placed the diamonds in the 
box. 

“ I am sorry, indeed,” I said, “ that I cannot 


190 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

show you the box just now; but if you will call 
this evening I will cheerfully show it to you.” 

“ Oh, it doesn’t matter very much,” said he 
carelessly, “ only I thought I should like to see it 
once again before you go; I suppose you leave 
here very shortly ? ” 

With this he arose and went away. 

When I was alone again I went over our con- 
versation, and there were many things that I re- 
called only to have my suspicions made stronger. 
Don came in then, and I detailed the whole affair 
to him. 

“ Perhaps he is in with that scoundrel Boez,” 
suggested my brother. “We shall have to keep 
our eyes open.” 

“ Yes, but how could Boez know anything 
about the diamonds ? ” I questioned doubtfully. 

“ I don’t know of course, Frank; but there is 
something strange about this business that makes 
me feel that these two men are mixed up together 
in some way, and I shall keep a sharp lookout on 
them. Now why should Boez have attempted to 
kill me at the falls? ” 

“ Of course that was mighty bad.” 

“ And then still more, why did he try to kill 
you while you were in the canoe with the girl ? ” 

“ I think he did that in sudden rage,” I replied; 
“ the fellow was beside himself.” 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 19 1 

Well, it looks to me like a preconcerted plan,’’ 
said Don doggedly; and though I tried to argue 
him out of the notion, yet he stuck to it persist- 
ently. As I have said, I was suspicious, but there 
were several things that were not clear to me. 
How did that treasure-box come into the posses- 
sion of the man if he did not find it in the cave? 
Or was it just a hoax on his part? But then — 
well, it was all a puzzle, no matter how I looked 
at it. 

“I am going out, Don,” I said, after I had 
hauled the box from under the bed, “ and you 
want to guard these well.” 

” Never fear, Frank; no one shall get them 
while I’m here.” 

Leaving the house, I strolled along until I 
came to a rough canyon in which grew a lot of 
beautiful ferns and wild flowers. The delightful 
appearance of the place attracted my attention, 
and I stopped to admire it. Going into the can- 
yon or gorge, I seated myself on a large rock be- 
neath a great overhanging bush of dense luxu- 
riance. 

I was ruminating on various things when my 
attention was attracted by the sound of voices. 
Peering through the foliage, I was surprised to 
see Boez and the man who had given me the in- 
laid box engaged in close conversation. 


192 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


A little to the left of where I then was ran a 
path to the top of the gorge. Cautiously screen- 
ing myself from observation by means of the 
dense foliage in the gorge, I crawled to the top 
and made my way along the edge until I came to 
where I could look down on the Spaniard and his 
companion. 

I lay down flat in the undergrowth, and peep- 
ing down over the edge I listened. Now, while 
I do not approve of eavesdropping under ordi- 
nary circumstances, yet in this instance I felt per- 
fectly justified in the act. 

“Do you think they have the diamonds?” I 
heard Boez ask. 

“ From their actions I should say that they 
have,” replied his companion. 

“ Why did you not get them? ” asked the Span- 
iard, in a fierce voice. “ I sent you word after 
the sailor — his name was Bendair — tried to en- 
list me in the scheme. I did not place much con- 
fidence in his story, but I did not want the chance 
to slip by if there was anything in it. And now 
the diamonds are gone ! ” The Spaniard gritted 
his teeth in wild rage and stamped the ground 
viciously. 

“ You should have sent me word sooner,” said 
Boez’ companion. 

“ I sent you word as soon as I could, when I 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 193 

learned the story from Bendair at Manila. 
Morales met me the same morning when I came 
over by the sailing-vessel, and he said that you 
had located the treasure-cave. Why did you not 
get the diamonds then? ” 

“ I could not find them. I went in, and all 
that I could find was an empty box.” 

“ What did you do with the box? ” 

“ I gave it away.” 

“ Why?” 

“ I will tell you.” 

With these words the man bent down close to 
Boez’ ear, and I could not hear what was said; 
but I had no doubt that he was explaining some 
scheme he had in mind in giving the box to me. 

Then the Spaniard's countenance cleared, and 
he said, loud enough for me to hear: “The dia- 
monds are in the box, then ? ” 

“ Tm sure of it.” 

“ Well, Morales should be here. He promised 
to keep a good watch on the three Americanos.” 

A peculiar bird-like whistle or call sounded on 
the air, and the next instant I felt myself in the 
grasp of a strong pair of arms. I struggled with 
all my might to throw off my assailant, and I be- 
lieve I should have succeeded in releasing myself 
had not Boez and his companion come on the 
scene — in answer probably to the bird-call. 


194 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“Ha!” yelled my old enemy. “You pig of 
an Americano, we have you now! Hold him 
fast, Morales ! ” 

With that he sprang in and helped the fellow he 
had called Morales, and who was holding on to 
me with a tenacious grip. 

I made another desperate effort to break away 
and succeeded. I started to run, but before I 
could avoid it I was tripped up by the other man, 
and went headlong down the declivity. My fall 
was not a hard one, but in rolling down my head 
struck a stone and I lost my senses. 

When I regained consciousness I found myself 
in a narrow room lying on a low cot. My head 
pained very much. Gazing around, I found the 
walls of the room to be of stone. There was but 
one small window that let in light and air; and 
this was guarded by a stout wire-netting. Near 
the door of the room sat a man with a pistol in 
his hand. I looked at him for some time, but he 
said not a word until I spoke to him. 

“ What is the meaning of this ? ” I demanded, 
attempting to arise from the cot. 

“ You must keep quiet,” said my jailor. 

“You have no right to detain me! ” 

“ No! ” he answered sneer ingly. 

“ You shall pay dear for this ! ” I cried, getting 
angry at the insolence of the fellow. 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


195 


I think you shall pay dear for this yourself, 
my friend — it is the only way in which you can 
escape.” 

“ What do you mean? Am I held for a ran- 
som?”- For I began to realize what Boez in- 
tended to do. He was going to hold me until 
Don and Oliver should give up the treasure. 

About an hour afterward Boez came to the 
door of the place, and he grinned at me hideously. 
He had a sheet of paper, a bottle of. ink, and a 
pen in his hand. 

“ I want you to write a letter,” he said, com- 
ing close to the cot. 

“ Well, I will not write it,” I declared. 

“ You must ! it is your only hope. If you do 

not ” He left the sentence unfinished, but a 

look at his face left no doubt as to his meaning. 
Then turning to my jailor, he said: “Morales, 
you may leave us for the present. But remain 
within call.” 

When we were alone, Alfredo Boez came close 
to the cot, pistol in hand. 

“ Take up the pen,” he said, pointing to that 
implement as it lay on a little table drawn close to 
the cot. I picked it up and waited. “Now 
write what I tell you.” 

“ To whom shall I address it? ” I questioned in 
a quiet tone, for I deemed that I could get along 


196 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


better, if I seemed to acquiesce in his scheme re- 
signedly ; but inwardly I was longing for a chance 
to throttle the scoundrel. 

“ To your brothers,” he said impatiently. 

“ What do you wish me to write to them for? 
Surely you don’t wish me to tell them where I 
am ? ” 

Boez scowled darkly at me, and there was a 
dangerous gleam in his eyes. 

Tell them they must leave the box of dia- 
monds in the shed at the rear of the house to- 
night. If they do, you shall be set at liberty. If 
they do not, you shall be — well, they will know.” 

‘‘ Surely,” I said, looking the man squarely in 
the eyes, “ you would not murder me ! I have 
never harmed you ! In fact, I have done you 
several good turns. You must know ” 

Boez interrupted me with a fierce Spanish oath. 
“ Yes,” he cried, “ you did me a good turn when 

you fired at me ” Then he stopped suddenly, 

only to go on by demanding that I instantly pro- 
ceed to write what he wanted. I felt doubly sure 
then that it was this man who had attempted to 
smash me in the girl’s canoe. 

“ Sefior Boez,” I said deliberately, and with- 
out noticing his threatening manner, what 
makes you think we have a box of diamonds? ” 

“ I know without any mistake. Morales saw 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


197 


you take two handfuls of diamonds and show 
them to your brothers after you escaped from the 
cave ? 

This made it plain that it was not Boez, but his 
chum Morales, who escaped from Don when I 
showed the diamonds to my brothers. 

“ And is Morales the man that jumped on me 
at the gorge ? ” I asked, more as a means of gain- 
ing time than for any other reason. 

‘‘Yes, the same.” 

“ Well, who is the man that is stopping at the 
village hotel and who was so friendly with me? 
By George! Boez you are a good deal sharper 
than I thought you were. You are a pretty slick 
article, after all. It is a pity that you do not 
make better use of your talents. If you would 
devote yourself to legitimate business, you would 
surely succeed.” 

The Spaniard’s eyes glistened with pleasure, 
for I had succeeded in flattering his vanity, and 
of this he had a large supply. 

“ I have a good head,” he said, swelling with 
vainly suppressed pride and gratification; “ I can 
plan like a general. If I had commanded the 
Spanish soldiers in the Philippines no dog of a 
Tagal would ever start a rebellion in the islands!” 

The fellow became worked up to such a pitch 
that he began to strut up and down the narrow 


198 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


room at an amazing pace. He threw his arms 
about wildly and shouted out imprecations at the 
top of his voice. I watched for an opportunity 
to get at him. 

When he had turned his back for a moment I 
seized the small table and jumping from my cot 
I sprang nimbly as a cat after him. So softly 
did I approach him, and so rapid was my attack, 
that he felt the full force of the table on his head 
as I brought it down suddenly with crushing 
effect. Before he could recover, I tore his pistol 
from his grasp and leaped from the room. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


ROBBED OF THE DIAMONDS. 

I PULLED the door shut as I went out, and it 
closed with a spring latch. As I vanished Boez 
let out a shout, and then I heard running on the 
floor above. Feeling sure that this was Morales, 
who was waiting in case he should be wanted, I 
stopped for a second and looked about me. Just 
ahead was a stairway. I ran and crouched under 
it as Morales came down. It being somewhat 
dark there, he did not spy me, but ran on to the 
room that I had just deserted. 

In an instant after he passed me, I mounted the 
stairway in great leaps. I bolted the door which 
was at the head of the stairs and darted through 
a hallway. At the end of this hallway was a 
door. The key was in the lock, and I quickly 
turned it. Opening the door, I found myself in 
a garden. 

A path led away from the house, here and there 
bordered by thick bushes that offered good con- 
cealment. I quickly hid myself in a great clump 


199 


200 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


and listened. No one followed me. I looked 
about cautiously to get my bearings. 

A great noise at the house attracted my atten- 
tion. There were loud talking and wrangling. 
I listened a moment, and was about to fly, when I 
heard the voices of Don and Oliver. My heart 
gave a leap of joy, and I ran back to the house, 
from which, but a little while before, I had been 
so eager to escape. 

“We demand admittance ! ” shouted Don in a 
fine rage. 

“ You cannot come in,” answered a voice from 
the inside. 

“ Our brother, Frank Folsom, is in here,” Don 
went on. “ We were informed that he had met 
with an accident and had been brought here.” 

“ It is not true,” returned the voice from The 
inside. 

By this time I had come close to the house and 
sung out to my brothers that I was there and in 
pretty good condition. 

“ By Jove ! ” exclaimed Don in great surprise 
when he saw me, and Oliver stood with a puzzled 
look on his face. 

“ What does this mean ? ” I demanded. “ I 
have not met with an accident ! Who told you I 
had?” 

“ Why, your friend at the hotel did. He said 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


201 


that you were seriously hurt and had been taken 
here. He gave us minute directions so that we 
could find this place,” said Don. 

“ Well, he is as big a scoundrel as Boez,” I 
cried in great excitement, for I had begun to sus- 
pect that this was a trick of Boez’ friend at the 
house to get Don and Oliver away under a pre- 
text and steal the diamonds while they were gone. 

“Why do you say that?” asked Oliver. 
“ What has happened that has changed your mind 
in regard to him? ” 

I hastily explained that I had discovered that 
Boez and the man at the village hotel were con- 
federates; and also that I had been held by them 
for a ransom. 

Don and Oliver were amazed, and they were 
for attacking Boez in the house, but I interposed 
and said that the best thing that we could do 
would be to hurry back to the hotel to see if the 
diamonds were still there. 

We hurried on to the hotel, dreading the worst. 
After all our trouble to get the treasure the pros- 
pect of losing it was hard to bear. We hardly 
said a word on that journey. We were all too 
busy with our own thoughts to say much. The 
man at the house, who had acted so friendly to- 
ward me at first, had probably done this to cheat 
Boez — he wanted the treasure for himself, and 


202 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


had cheated his companions in crime by this 
maneuver. 

Arriving at the hotel we ran up to our room. 
The door was locked. I had a slight hope then 
that perhaps we had not been robbed. Upon 
going in Don quickly advanced to the bed and 
grabbing covers and all in one strong grasp he 
raised them up. 

“ The treasure is gone,” he said, with a 
gulp. 

We stood looking at each other in silence. 
While we had expected it, yet now that it was an 
assured thing, we were as if struck dumb. 

“We will follow the fellow to the ends of the 
earth ! ” cried Don, breaking the silence. 

“ We will,” declared both Oliver and I. 

“ We must find out if anyone has seen that 
scoundrel leave the house,” said Don, as he left 
the room and went downstairs, we following. 

Diligent inquiry revealed the fact that the man 
had gone away about fifteen minutes after he had 
sent Don and Oliver on their quest for me. A 
native boy, who had just come in, informed us 
that he had seen a man, whom he had often seen 
at the hotel, going down a certain path, which he 
offered to show us, at a rapid walk. 

“ Here’s a dollar for you, my little man ! ” cried 
Don with exultation, and handing the boy a 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


203 


bright silver coin of that denomination. “ Put 
us on the road at once.” 

The boy hurried away with alacrity, for the 
coin had infused him with notable vigor, and we 
had to quicken our pace to keep up with him. 

We soon reached a path that led us away from 
the crater. Along this we flew with the boy in 
the lead. The path was bordered with grass and 
bushes, and as we ran along I spied something 
which caused me a shock of surprise. 

“ The treasure-box! ” I cried, leaving the path 
and making toward a clump of bushes to the 
right. I soon had the box in my possession, but 
it proved to be empty — the scoundrel had prob- 
ably thrown it away, not wanting to be encum- 
bered by it. We were disappointed, of course, 
yet still the box showed that we were on the trail 
of the villain. 

On we went with renewed vigor over rocky 
places, down precipitous slopes, and through 
tangled masses of undergrowth. 

The native boy then informed us that he had 
seen the man last where we then were. 

'‘Do you know the country around here?” 
questioned Don. 

“ Yes, very well; nobody can lose me here,” re- 
plied the boy with a grin of pride. 

“ Very well, be our guide,” said Don. “We 



204 FORTUNE HUNTERS 

leave it to you; take us the way you think he has 
gone.” 

“ I do the best,” said the native, again starting 
on a run. 

The scene grew wilder as we went on, and the 
way became steeper and rougher. At last we 
came to a deep and narrow gorge, at the bottom 
of which ran a noisy stream of water. The 
stream was about twenty feet below the top of 
the gorge and went dashing along over masses 
of stone imbedded in the bottom. 

The chasm or gorge was about five or six yards 
wide, and the only way to cross it was by means 
of two sticks of timber laid close together from 
one side to the other. ® 

The Tagal boy went over first and stood wait- 
ing for us to come over. Don tested the bridge 
before venturing on it, and we saw that it was 
perfectly safe. It would easily hold ten times our 
weight. 

“ It’s all right,” sung out Don. Go ahead.” 

I stepped on the timbers and Oliver followed, 
then came Don. While we were hardly in the 
middle the timbers began to move and the native 
boy began to shout in great alarm and terror. 
Turning a little to see what caused the timbers to 
move, I was horrified to see a man on the bank 
that we had but just left trying to lift up and dis- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


205 


lodge the rude bridge. I hastened to reach the 
opposite side with all speed, crying out to my 
comrades to hurry. 

From side to side the timbers were swayed, and 
I saw with alarm that they were gradually work- 
ing away from their resting-place. The native 
boy sprang forward and tried to hold them down, 
but his efforts were hardly of any use. Our posi- 
tion was extremely perilous, for we could barely 
retain our footing, so violent was the movement 
of the bridge. 

All this took less time than it takes to tell it, 
but everything that happened then is indelibly 
marked on my memory. Just as we .neared the 
bank the timbers were lifted high on the other 
bank and shoved suddenly to one side. We all 
leaped and landed safe, while the timbers went 
crashing down into the chasm. 

“ Thank God, we’re safe ! ” I cried. 

Looking over then, we saw the fellow who had 
tried to kill us start to run away, when he was 
intercepted by a man who leaped on him with the 
ferocity of a tiger. Over and over they went, 
tearing at each other and raining down blow on 
blow. 

“ Well, this beats all! ” exclaimed Don as we 
stood there, looking on in amazement at the scene 
enacting on the other side of the chasm. 


2o6 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ The newcomer looks like Boez ! ” I cried as I 
caught a good look. 

“ Yes,” put in Oliver, “ and the other fellow 
is the man from the hotel who stole the 
treasure.” 

” Boez may get the diamonds, after all,” said 
Don gloomily. Then he suddenly drew his pistol 
and was about to fire at the two men, who by this 
time had rolled near the edge of the gorge. 

“ Don’t do that, Don ! ” I cried in alarm. 

“Why not?” 

“ Fd rather we lost the diamonds.” 

“ Nonsense ! ” 

“ Yes, I would,” I persisted, holding his hand 
so that he could not use his weapon. 

“ There they go ! ” yelled Oliver, as both men 
went toppling over the edge of the gorge. 

We stood gazing in silent horror as the men 
went down. The man who had robbed us was 
caught by one of the timbers which had become 
jammed in the rocks below and, which stood at 
an angle pointing toward the top of the chasm. 
His clothing became entangled with the timber, 
and there he hung suspended with death staring 
at him from below. Boez had clutched wildly at 
the sides of the rocky gorge when he went down, 
but his efforts to save himself were vain. He 
struck his head on a projecting rock and tumbled 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


207 


into the mountain torrent a limp and lifeless 
corpse. 

The man on the stick of timber tried to wriggle 
around so that he could hold. He had just suc- 
ceeded in doing this when the stick, loosened by 
his movement, came down with a crash, hurling 
him against the wall of the gorge. He gave a 
groan and ever thereafter was silent. 

For a few minutes none of us could stir. The 
horror of the thing enthralled us. The waters in 
the gorge dashed and foamed over and around 
the two forms that lay there, a bird flew by sing- 
ing on its way, and the wind blew softly, shaking 
the foliage in its course. 

“ We ought to bring the bodies up,” said Don, 
breaking the silence. 

“ Yes, but how? ” questioned Oliver. If we 
had a rope we might do something.” 

“ I can make a rope,” said the native boy. We 
looked at him in a questioning way, and for an- 
swer he ran off into the dense growth of brush 
and vine near by. 

Soon the boy appeared with an armful of 
creepers and vines and set hastily to work braid- 
ing and twisting them into a long stout cord. 
When he had finished the rope, we tested it and it 
proved to be very strong. 

Selecting a spot where there was a series of 


2o8 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


footholds, Don fastened the rope under his arms 
and then descended while we held on to the free 
end of the rope. Slowly and carefully we “ paid 
out,” and soon Don was at the bottom, resting on 
a broad flat rock that stood well out of the foam- 
ing eddying waters. 

Calling to Don to brace himself, and telling us 
to hold tight, the boy went down the rope hand- 
over-hand, and was quickly on the rock below 
beside Don. 

After considerable effort Don and the boy 
managed to get the body of Boez’ confederate 
over on the rock where they had first landed. In 
this work the native boy’s skill was of great 
service. He was perfectly at home amid the 
jagged rocks and swirling waters. Not a false 
or useless move did he make. 

I suggested to Don that it was unnecessary to 
hoist the body to the top of the chasm, as he could 
just as well search for the diarnonds down below. 
He agreed with the idea, and soon he was in pos- 
session of the treasure, which the dead man had 
placed in a money-belt buckled under his vest. 
My brother and the native boy then ascended, 
leaving both bodies there in the gorge. 


CHAPTER XXV. 

HOME AGAIN CONCLUSION. 

It being impossible to return by the way we 
had come, because of the destruction of the foot- 
way, our guide, the native boy, set out on a path 
that would bring us to a bridge far down the 
stream where we might cross. 

Going along, we discussed the events of the 
day and cleared up several points as to our vari- 
ous movements while we were separated. The 
diamonds we had replaced in their ancient re- 
ceptacle, and I carried it with watchful eyes. 

‘‘ What do you suppose the gems are worth ? ” 
I asked Don as we walked side by side. 

“ Anywhere from fifty to seventy-five thousand 
dollars,” replied Don positively. 

“ Phew ! ” I softly whispered. It was worth 
coming for.” 

'' Indeed it was.” 

We raised a shout of exultation and hugged 
the boy in a very delirium of joy that made his 
eyes sparkle with pleasure and excitement. 


209 


210 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


“ Well done, my lad ! ” cried Don, holding his 
arm about the sturdy little fellow. “We will re- 
ward you well for this day’s work.” 

“ What you going to give me? ” he asked with 
native frankness. 

“ Anything you like! ” we shouted in chorus. 

“ Then give me a good horse,” said the boy, 
whereat we laughed good-naturedly. 

“ You shall have the best on the island,” said 
Don. And I will say right here that the promise 
was not forgotten, for shortly after, through the 
help of Captain Bartell, we purchased one of the 
finest animals in the shape of horseflesh that we 
could procure, and presented it to the boy. His 
pleasure and joy thereat were great. 

W e arrived at the village hotel safe and sound, 
and with the treasure intact. We stayed there 
only long enough to straighten out a bit and settle 
our bill. Sandy had our horses ready, and we 
dashed off gayly for Rumida, determined to run 
no more risks with the treasure than were abso- 
lutely necessary. 

The distance between the burning mountain 
and Rumida was covered without mishap, and we 
were shortly after safely domiciled at the Rest. 

Our first move on reaching Rumida was to 
store our treasure in some safe place, our next to 
learn how soon we could get back to Manila, for 


OF THE PHILIPPINES. 


2II 


we knew that was the only port at which we could 
find a vessel bound for the United States. 

“We can’t get back any too quick for me,” said 
my oldest brother; and Don and I agreed with 
him. 

“ And what will Mr. Narcross say now ? ” I 
said, after a pause. 

“ I reckon he won’t know what to say,” said 
Don. 

Curiously enough, now we had the great treas- 
ure none of us felt like remaining away from 
California any longer. What we would do when 
we got back would be another story. Certain it 
was, however, that we would not let our guardian 
abuse us again. * . 

At the docks in Rumida we ran plump into 
Captain Bartell and Matt Capsan, both beaming 
with good-nature. 

“ Hullo! ” cried Oliver; “ what are you doing 
here?” 

“ I am going to Manila,” answered the cap- 
tain. “ The mate’s relatives have sold out their 
interest in the Golden Rover, and I am to have 
my command back just as soon as she returns to 
Luzon — which will be inside of two weeks.” 

“ And where do you sail to ? ” I questioned 
eagerly. 

“Back to San Francisco.” 


212 


FORTUNE HUNTERS 


All of US boys were glad to hear this, and we 
arranged on the spot for passage with the captain. 
He said he would be delighted to have us along. 

“ But it’s odd you didn’t stay longer,” he 
added. “ Don’t like the islands, eh ? ” 

We held a consultation, and ended by taking 
the kind-hearted captain into our confidence. Of 
course he listened to our strange tale in amaze- 
ment. 

“ It’s like a fairy tale ! ” he cried. “ But you 
lads deserve the treasure. I never saw pluckier 
American boys in my life.” 

We obtained passage back to Manila two days 
later, and once at the capital city we deposited 
the treasure in a bank for safe-keeping. Then 
there remained nothing to do but to wait for the 
return of the Golden Rover. 

We spent our spare time in looking about the 
town, and in making excursions to Malolos, 
Malabon, and other points. At that time there 
was but little trouble between the natives and 
their Spanish masters, and nobody thought that 
the day was coming when Spain would cede the 
islands to the United States and that Uncle Sam 
would have to send over thousands of soldier boys 
to subdue the insurgents. 

When the Golden Rover came into port a large 
number of her crew were discharged, and Cap- 


OF THE PHILIPPINES, 


213 


tain Bartell formed a new crew, Matt Capsan 
being at the head of the crowd. Soon we sailed 
away, and so well did the crew behave that no 
trouble was had during all of the many weeks 
spent on the rolling Pacific. 

It must be confessed that our hearts beat fast 
when we came into sight of the Golden Gate. To 
all of us it seemed as if we had been away an age 
instead of a few months. 

Having left our treasure-box with a safe- 
deposit company in San Francisco, we called 
upon a Mr. Little, who had once been a warm 
friend to our father, and to this legal gentleman 
we told our tale from beginning to end, just as I 
have put it down in these pages. We asked Mr. 
Little if we could not compel Mr. Narcross to 
treat us better. 

“ Yes,” answered the lawyer. “ I will go up 
to Oceanville with you and see what can be 
done.” 

He was as good as his word, and that evening 
found us up at the ranch house. When Mr. Nar- 
cross met us at the* door he was almost over- 
come with astonishment. He wanted to “ dress 
us down ” then and there, but a cold look from 
Mr. Little made him fall back and change his 
mind. 

It is needless for me to go into the particulars 


214 


FORTUJVE HUNTERS. 


of the stormy interview that followed. Mr. Nar- 
cr©ss speedily found out how wrongly he had 
acted, and ended by stating that he was willing to 
resign his guardianship. This suited us, and Mr. 
Little being willing, we chose him to serve in Mr. 
Narcross’ place, moving the next day back to San 
Francisco, where we have lived ever since. 

As our guardian, Mr. Little took charge of the 
Diamond Treasure, and sold the gems to a first- 
class wholesale dealer, who allowed him eighty 
thousand dollars in cash for them. Several of 
the small diamonds were kept, and we had one set 
in a gold stick-pin for honest Captain Bartell, 
who is still our warmest friend. 

And now let me close my story, since the hunt 
has been brought to a successful end. Come 
what may, I do not believe that my brothers or 
myself will ever forget the thrilling adventures 
which fell to our lot while searching for the great 
Diamond Treasure of the Philippines. 


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Two Chums 

Captain Bonehill has never penned a better tale than this 
stirring story of adventures in Cuba. Two bojrs, an American 
and his Cuban chum, leave New York to join their parents in the 
interior of Cuba. The war between Spain and the Cubans is on, 
and the boys are detained at Santiago de Cuba, but escape by 
crossing the bay at night. Many adventures between the lines 
follow, and a good pen picture of General Garcia is given. The 
American lad, with others, is captured and cast into a dungeon 
in Santiago ; and then follows the never-to-be-forgotten campaign 
in Cuba under General Shafter. How the hero finally escapes 
makes reading no wide-awake boy will want to miss. 

A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY ; ot, Afloat in the Philippines 

The story of Dewey’s victory in Manila Bay will never grow 
old, but here we have it told in a new form — not as those in com- 
mand witnessed the contest, but as it appeared to a real, live 
American youth who was in the navy at the time. Many ad- 
ventures in Manila and in the interior follow, giving true-to-life 
scenes from this remote portion of the globe, A book that 
should be in every boy’s library. 

OFF FOR HAWAII ; or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano 

Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several 
boys start on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard 
that there is a treasure located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the 
largest active volcano in the world, and go in search of it. 
Their numerous adventures will be followed with much interest. 


PEESS OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN BONEHILL’S BOOKS FOB BOYS 

“Captain Bonehill’s stories will always be popular with our boys, for the reason 
that they are thoroughly up-to-date and true to life. As a writer of outdoor tales he 
has no rival,” — Bri^t Days. 

“ The story is by Captain Ralph Bonehill. and that is all that need be said about it 
for all of our readers know that the captain is one of America’s best story-tellers, so 
far as stories for young people go .” — Young People o/ America. 

“ The story is excellently told, and will please any intelligent boy into whose hands 
it may fall .” — Charleston (5. C) News. 

“ We understand that Captain Bonehill will soon be turning from sporting stories to 
tales of the war. This field is one ia which he should feel thoroughly at home. We at« 
certain that the boys will look eagerly for the Bonehill war taX^^.^—VYeekly Messenger, 

w THE MERSHON COMPANY 

156 Fiftb Avenue, New York Railway, N. J, 


Mrs, L, T, Meade^s \ 


tpmi, „■ 



FAMOUS BOOKS ! 

FOR GIRLS 

1 


^ , 

J 


There are few more favorite au- 


thors with American girls than Mrs. 1 

L. T. Meade, whiose copyright works 
can only be had from us. Essentially I 
a writer for the home, with the lof- | 

8 


tiest aims and purest sentiments, ^ 




Mrs. Meade’s books possess the merit 

of utility as well as the means of amusement. They are girls* 
books— written for girls, and fitted for every home. 

Here will be found no maudlin nonsense as to the affections. 
There are no counts in disguise nor castles in Spain. It is pure 
and wholesome literature of a high order with a lofty ideal. 

The volumes are all copyright, excellently printed with clear, 
open type, uniformly bound in best cloth, with ink and gold 
stamp. i 2 mo, price $i.oo. 


THE FOLLOWING ARE 


*Vhz Children of Wilton Chase 
Bashful Fifteen 
Betty: A Schoo^irl 
Four on an Island 
Girls New and Old 
Out of the Fashion 
The Palace Beautiful 
Pollyt a New-Fashioned Girl 
Rose and Tiger Lily 


IE THE TITLES 

A Ring of Rubies 
A Sweet Girl Graduate 
A World of Girls 
Good Luck 

A Girl in Ten Thousand 
A Young Mutineer 
Wild Kitty 

The Children's Pilgrimage 
The Girls of St* Wode*s 


• THE MERSHON COMPANY 

156 Fifth Ave*» New York Rahway^ Ni % 



Edward S* 

POPULAR 
BOYS' BOOKS 

l2mo, Qoth 

Purely American in scene, plot, 
motives, and characters, the copy- 
right works of Edward S. Ellis 
have been deservedly popular 
with the youth of America. In a 
communi^ where every native- 
born boy can aspire to the highest offices, such a book as Ellis* 
From the Throttle to the President’s Chair,” detailing the 
progress of the sturdy son of the people from locomotive engi- 
gineer to the presidency of a great railroad, must always be 
popular. The youth of the land which boasts of a Vanderbilt 
will ever desire such books, and naturally will desire stories of 
their native land before wandering over foreign climes. 

The volumes of this series are all copyright, printed from 
large, new type, on good paper, and are handsomely bound in 
cloth, stamped with appropriate designs. Price $i.oo. 

THE FOLLOWING COMPRISE THE TITLES 
Down the Mississippi 

From the Throttle to the Presidents Chair 
Up the Tapajos 

Tad; or, Getting Even" with Him 
Lost in Samoa 

Lost in the Wilds 
Red Plume 

A Waif of the Mountains 


« THE MERSHON COMPANY 

t56 Fifth Avc,* New York Rahway, N*j» 




The Famous 

Andrew Lang 

Fairy Books 

^ ^ ^ 

The Blue, Red, Green, and 
Yellow Fairy Books 

^ jit 

Never were there more popular books of Fairy Tales than 
these famous collections made by Andrew Lang. At his able 
hands the romantic literature of the world has been laid under 
contribution. The folk-lore of Ireland, the romance of the 
Rhine, and the wild legends of the west coast of Scotland, with 
all the glamour and mystery of the Scottish border, have com 
tributed to this famous series of fairy tales. 

Here are the tales that have delighted generations of children. 
Some culled from old English versions of the eighteenth century, 
some modernized from quaint chap-books, and all handsomely 
and modernly illustrated. With the aid of a scholar such as Mr. 
Lang, the entire world has contributed to this famous series. 
There is material here for years of delight for children. 

Each volume is profusely illustrated, printed on velvet-finished 
paper, bound in cloth, with a very attractive stamp in ink and 
gold. Small izmo, price 75 cents. 

These books should be read in the following order : i. The Blue 
Fairy Book ; 2, The Red Fairy Book ; 3, The Green Fairy Book; 
4, The Yellow Fairy Book. 

The Blue Fairy Book The Green Fairy Book 
The Red Fairy Book The Yellow Fairy Book 


THE MERSHON COMPANY 

156 Fifth Ave*, New York Rahway, N« 



THE ROVER BOYS SERIES 

For Young; Americans 

By ARTHUR M* WINFIELD 

^ ^ ^ 

Warli Volume Handsomely Illustrated and Bound in Qolli 

^ ^ ^ 

THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL? or. The Cadets of Putnam 
HaU 

Arthur M. Winfield has written many tales for boys, but he has penned 
nothing better than this story of life and adventure at an American military 
school, introducing as he does all sorts and conditions of boys, as well as 
several girls, and a plot that is bound to hold the reader’s attention from 
start to finish. Anybody who loves an out-and-out boy’s book should read 
this volume. 

THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN? or, A Chase for a 
Fortune 

This is a complete story in itself, but forms the second volume of the 
series. During a vacation at the school, a fortune is stolen and carried off 
to sea, and Sam, Tom, and Dick lose no time in following up the missing 
treasure. On the ocean they fall in with numerous adventures, as thrilling 
as they are absorbing. 

THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE ? or. Stirring Adventures 
in Africa 

The father of the Rover boys had gone to Africa and had not been 
heard of for a long time. At last, unable to stand the suspense, the boys, 
accompanied by some older heads, start on a search for the missing parent. 
The hunt leads them into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where they 
become lost and fall in with many strange and savage natives. How all 
escape makes reading that nobody would care to miss. 

Other volumes of this series in preparation 


Press Notices of Arthur M. Winfield’s Books for Young People 

“ He knows how to tell a story that will take possession of the reader 
from the first pa-zei*— Rochester {N. V.) Post-Express. 

“ His school stories cannot be surpassed. They are true to life, and his 
boys are real, live, flesh-and-blood fellows.” — Bright Days. 

“A new story by Mr. Winfield is always hailed with delight, for the boys 
know they are going to get just what they are looking for— something 
bright ana wholesome, without being either too sensational or too wishy- 
washy.”— Young People of America. 

<•0 THE MERSHON COMPANY 

15* TOtt Avenue, New York Rakway, N. J. 






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JUN 13 1900 



















